Rhincodon Typus
(pssss....that means a Whale Shark)

whale shark
Whale Shark and Scuba Diver
    The whale shark is the biggest shark and the biggest fish.  But it is not a whale, even though it's part of it's name.  The whale shark has distinctive light-yellow markings all up and down it's body.  It's skin can be up to 4 inches thick.  The whale shark can reach up to 46 feet and can weigh up to 15 tons.  Females are larger than males, their's a first!
Diet
The whale shark is a filter feeder that sives small animals. 
Distribution
whale shark distribution
Swimming
Whale sharks are slow swimmers, going no more than 3 mph.
Whale Shark Attacks
 Whale sharks are harmless to people and usually indifferent to divers.
Life Span
 It has been estimated that whale sharks may live up to 100 - 150 years.
Reproduction
 The Whale shark was long thought to be oviparous (an egg 14 inches (36 cm) long was found in the Gulf of Mexico in 1953; this would be the largest egg in the world). Recently, pregnant females have been found containing hundreds of pups, so, Whale sharks are viviparous, giving birth to live young. Newborns are over 2 feet (60 cm) long.
Classroom Zoo Page E-mail Me