Whale Shark FactsIt's a fact that whale shark facts are interesting! Whale Sharks are slow movers. They are filter feeders and they eat continuously. They are the biggest living fish and the largest found was over forty feet long. The heaviest whale shark on record weighed in at a whopping 79,000 pounds! These huge sharks love the warm water and can actually live for seventy years. They have been around for more than sixty million years! It is called a whale shark because it filter feeds like a shark but is as monstrous as a whale.The shark’s mouth can be as large as five feet wide. They have about three hundred rows of small teeth. Its wide, flat head houses the two very small eyes which are in the front. The gray body has a white underbelly and the skin has a yellowish checkerboard appearance. The skin of the shark is really thick, possibly up to four inches thick. These filter feeders live on krill, crab larvae, plankton and algae. They also feed on squid and small vertebrates. Although it is a very large marine creature, whale sharks are really no threat to humans. They are incredibly docile and often will allow people to catch rides on their backs. In 2009, whale sharks congregated off of the coast of Alabama. It was a virtual paradise for those wishing to see the largest fish in the world. There have been numerous photographs of people swimming with whale sharks in the area. It would have to be an incredible experience to swim with these enormous fish! Some charter boat captains have reported seeing whale sharks off the coast. They claim that the sharks were swimming harmoniously with schools of cobia. The captains have stated that the big fish swam right next to their boats and didn’t care that people were staring at them. Apparently, the whale sharks know that they’re big fish in a super big pond! They have also been sited from the Gulf State Park Pier. Should you be in the northern Gulf waters and a whale shark appears, think before you do anything. It is not a good idea to touch it as that can startle the fish and cause it to move erratically. Although not a bite danger, one movement of the tail in the wrong way and the swimmer can be hurt severely. It is wise to keep at least 6 feet away from a whale shark as even an unintentional swat from the tail can hospitalize anyone. Scientists have begun to tag all captured whale sharks off the coast of Alabama. They are hoping to track the movements of these gentle giants of the Gulf. The data from tracking will help scientists understand the migration patterns of the sharks. New! CommentsHave your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. |
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