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Project Noah Nature School
Rhincodon typus
This beautiful, shy shark -- fondly called "the gentle giant" of the seas -- is the largest shark and the largest living fish species. It has very distinctive markings. Also known as Typus Shark and Tofu Shark. They feed on planktonic and nektonic prey, such as sardines, anchovies, mackerel, small tuna and albacore, small crustaceans and squids. It can reach a length of up to 14m. These are slow filter-feeding sharks whose mouth can be 1.5m wide and can contain as many as 350 tiny rows of teeth.
Living in the open sea although often comes in close to shore. It has been observed at depths of 0 to 700m. Widespread in the Indo-Pacific region.
I spotted this juvenile whale shark from the dive boat, and went on to swim with it (without touching it!) up to about 3m. It was about 5m long.
Spotted on Feb 27, 2012
Submitted on Feb 27, 2012
58 Comments (1–25)
Thanks for all your greetings! It's always my pleasure to share my photos here, and the activity is even more gratifying when I read your comments. :)
Blogie, this spotting amazed me when I was about a month into Project Noah, and I am no less in awe today. Thanks for sharing the underwater world with us. Congratulations!
Woo-hoo. Congratulations Blogie!
Congratulations, Blogie!
Congratulations Blogie :):)
Congratulations Blogie
Congratulations Blogie!
Wow! Congrats!
Wow! Thanks guys! :)
Cool!!
Congratulations Blogie :)
Congrats Blogie! This awesome photo has been chosen as a runner up in the "2012 Best Spotting of the Year" Fish category!
http://blog.projectnoah.org/post/3958700...
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Awesome spotting.
Thanks very much, LoisStacey and Austin Jacobs! Yep, it was a fantastic experience indeed!
Great spot. This looks like a great experience.
What a great spotting! This must have been fantastic.
It sure was, Kevin! I really want to see an adult whale shark next time -- they can grow up to a gigantic 14-meter but still very graceful creature!
wow that is AMAZING!!!
That's right, Maria! It's an awe-inspiring experience to see them in their natural habitat. I hope I get to see one again soon...
awesome spotting! what a beautiful gentle giant.
Thank you, Hunter! I feel a bit bad, though, because I wasn't able to take a photo of its left side. You see -- and I discovered this after this amazing encounter -- researchers around the world identify whale sharks by the markings on their left side. Anyway, I did name this one Bruno. ;)
What an incredible animal. You're extremely lucky to be able to photograph this! Great photo.
My pleasure entirely, bbprevas. :)
wonderful video. thank you for sharing.
@MeaganKeefe - Thanks! Feel free to use my picture & video! :)
@Ava - Thank you!