The Whale Shark

You may think sharks are fierce meat-eating fish, but this post shows that not all sharks are like that. Unlike great whites and tiger sharks, this is the whale shark. The whale shark is a gentle giant. They are the biggest kind of shark and the largest fish on earth. They can grow up to 46 feet long and can weigh up to 26,500 pounds, or 22 tons! Their mouths can measure 4 to 5 feet wide. 

Whale sharks are gray with white spots. They can be found in warm seas around the world, such as the Indian Ocean. They are usually found looking for food near the surface of the water. Whale sharks are often followed by schools of smaller fish that keep the shark clean by eating bacteria and debris from its mouth. 

Although a whale shark has about 3,000 tiny teeth, they don't use them very often. Instead whale sharks are "filter feeders" and use tiny bristles in front of their gills to trap plankton and fish eggs. Whale sharks have impressive diving skills, diving more than 3,300 feet down in search of fish eggs! The basking shark and megamouth shark are other filter feeders you should know, although these sharks are not related to each other. The whale shark's closest relatives are zebra sharks and short-tail nurse sharks.

The whale shark's giant size means it has few predators, however pods of orcas have been known to take them down. Lone orcas, great whites and sailfish have been known to attack the young. Scientists think that some whale sharks can live for more than 100 years! 

Cool Fact: A whale shark's skin is up to 4 inches thick, making it the thickest skin of any living creature!