By: Sylvia Yannsdottir

Whale sharks are commonly known for their size. They are the third largest creature in the ocean; capable of growing up to 12 meters long, and weighing more than 3 elephants combined. Whale sharks are very solitary creatures, and although they are a type of shark, they are extremely gentle and calm compared to other animals in the ocean.

A whale shark’s life typically begins in tropical warm waters, and they spend most of their life cruising around aimlessly feeding on plankton, small fish, and other organisms. They do this by using their teeth to strain through large amounts of water, where they separate their food from water. Generally, they spend up to 7-and-a-half hours feeding each day.

The average lifespan for a whale shark is up to 100 years, if not even older, some reaching 130 years. They grow very rapidly when they are young, but their rate of growth declines and becomes steady after a while, and by the time they are 30 years old, they have reached maturity.

When it comes to reproduction, whale sharks are able to give birth in a unique way. A single whale shark is able to produce eggs that are already formed inside of its body, and over a steady amount of time, it will birth around 300 young.

One thing that makes whale sharks very unique is their patterned skin. Every whale shark has their own individual pattern of white polka dots and stripes that go across their gray bodies. Their patterned skin is not only very pretty but it can be super useful for researchers to identify, or recognize a whale shark.

Whale sharks are in fact listed as an endangered species. This is because of vessel strikes, and being caught or hurt accidentally by commercial fishing services. While it is unfortunate, it is sadly often that those two factors are at fault for the population decrease of countless species in the ocean. Luckily though, there are plenty of organizations out there that are putting effort into protecting whale shark populations.