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Whale Shark

Rhincodon typus

Description:

Photo take near Isla Mueres, México. Is a slow-moving filter feeding shark and the largest extant fish species. The largest confirmed individual had a length of 12.65 mt and a weight of more than 21.5 tonnes , and there are unconfirmed reports of considerably larger whale sharks. Claims of individuals over 14 mt long and weighing at least 30 tonnes are not uncommon.

Habitat:

The whale shark is found in tropical and warm oceans and lives in the open sea with a lifespan of about 70 years. Although whale sharks have very large mouths, as filter feeders they feed mainly, though not exclusively, on plankton, which are microscopic plants and animals.

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Gerardo Aizpuru
Spotted by
Gerardo Aizpuru

Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Spotted on Jun 22, 2013
Submitted on Jun 22, 2013

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