Whale Shark | National Geographic

Summary

This video presents fascinating facts about the whale shark, the largest fish in the ocean, growing up to 65 feet and weighing over 10 tons. Unlike predatory sharks, whale sharks have tiny teeth and are filter feeders. They swim with their wide mouths open, consuming small prey like dog snapper and kubera eggs during spawning rituals. As they filter over 1,500 gallons of water per hour, whale sharks rely on these eggs for sustenance. Despite their massive size, they pose no threat to humans, preferring their delicate diet of tiny marine organisms.

Takeaways

• 🐋 The whale shark is the largest shark in the ocean, reaching up to 65 feet in length and weighing over 10 tons.
• 🦈 It is more than three times the size of the great white shark, making it the largest living fish today.
• 🦷 Despite having 3,000 teeth, the whale shark does not use them to tear apart mammals as their teeth are tiny and not functional for such purposes.
• 🌊 The whale shark is a filter feeder, using its 4-foot-wide mouth to capture prey while expelling water through its gills.
• 🐠 One of its primary food sources includes dog snapper eggs, which are released during the spawning ritual.
• 🐟 The whale shark also feeds on the eggs of kubera fish, which gather in deep waters and release tens of thousands of eggs during spawning.
• 💧 Whale sharks can process over 1,500 gallons of water per hour, allowing them to capture large quantities of tiny prey like fish eggs.
• ⚪ Female kubera fish can release tens of thousands of eggs a night for up to five consecutive nights, providing abundant food for whale sharks.
• 🍽️ Whale sharks prefer small prey like fish eggs and have no interest in attacking large mammals, including humans.
• 🌍 These gentle giants of the ocean are harmless to humans as long as they have access to their natural food sources, primarily tiny fish eggs.

Q & A

What is the maximum size of a whale shark?

A whale shark can grow to a maximum of 65 feet long and weigh over 10 tons.

How does the size of a whale shark compare to a great white shark?

The whale shark is more than three times the size of the formidable great white shark.

What distinguishes the teeth of a whale shark from those of a great white shark?

Unlike the great white shark, the whale shark's three thousand teeth are tiny and are not used to tear apart mammals. In fact, their teeth are of little use.

What is the primary feeding method of a whale shark?

The whale shark is a filter feeder. It swims with its huge, four-foot wide mouth open, trapping prey in a sieve or rakers while expelling water through its gills.

What kind of prey do whale sharks primarily consume?

Whale sharks primarily consume tiny prey such as dog snapper eggs and kubera eggs.

Describe the spawning ritual of the dog snapper.

Dog snappers parade up the water, and at the top of the parade loop, the females lay their eggs while the males release their sperm.

How do kubera fish reproduce and why is it relevant to whale sharks?

Kubera fish gather in deep water and form a cyclone that whirls toward the surface. The female turns white to attract males, who swarm her in a frenzy releasing sperm as she releases her eggs. This spawning process provides a significant source of food for whale sharks.

How much water can a whale shark process each hour?

A whale shark can process over 1500 gallons of water each hour.

Why are whale sharks not interested in eating humans?

Whale sharks have no interest in eating humans as long as they have their more delicate, tiny prey around.

What ensures that whale sharks remain satisfied with their diet?

The abundance of tiny prey such as dog snapper and kubera eggs ensures that whale sharks remain satisfied and do not seek larger prey like humans.