Whale Sharks | SHARK ACADEMY

Summary

In this episode of Shark Academy, Jonathan Bird introduces the whale shark, the world's largest fish, which can grow up to 50 feet long. Despite its enormous size, the whale shark is harmless, feeding primarily on plankton and small fish by filtering water through its gills. Bird explains its unique polka-dotted skin pattern and the fascinating fact that female whale sharks give birth to over 300 pups, though they're only about a foot long at birth. He also highlights the importance of conservation due to overfishing threats. Viewers are encouraged to subscribe and follow for more shark adventures.

Takeaways

• 🐋 The whale shark is the world's largest fish, often compared to the size of a whale but is not a whale.
• 🦈 Whale sharks are fish, not mammals, unlike whales which breathe air and are mammals.
• 🚍 Whale sharks can grow up to 50 feet long, which is the length of two school buses placed end to end.
• 🍽️ Despite their enormous size, whale sharks feed on plankton and small fish by filtering water through their gills.
• 🦷 Whale sharks are harmless to humans, with throats too small to swallow a person.
• ⚠️ The only way a whale shark could harm a human is through accidental contact, such as being hit by its tail.
• 🔵 Whale sharks have a distinctive polka-dotted and striped skin pattern, often referred to as the 'Domino shark' in some countries.
• 🤷 The purpose of the whale shark's skin pattern is unclear, but it might act as camouflage in the water.
• 🐣 Whale shark pups are born about a foot long, and females can give birth to over 300 pups at a time.
• ⏳ Whale sharks do not reproduce until around 30 years old, making them vulnerable to overfishing despite their large number of offspring.

Q & A

What is the whale shark, and how does it differ from a whale?

The whale shark is the world's largest fish, not a whale. It is called a whale shark because of its enormous size, similar to a whale, but it is a fish, unlike whales, which are mammals and breathe air.

Why is the whale shark considered harmless to humans?

The whale shark is considered harmless because it feeds on plankton and small fish, not humans. Its throat is too small to swallow anything larger than plankton or small fish, making it incapable of swallowing a human.

How does a whale shark feed?

A whale shark feeds by swimming with its mouth wide open, filtering water through its gills. The gills contain comb-like structures called gill rakers that trap plankton and small fish, which the shark then swallows.

How large can whale sharks grow?

Whale sharks can grow up to 50 feet long, which is approximately the length of two school buses placed end to end.

What do whale sharks eat, and how much do they need to eat to sustain their size?

Whale sharks mainly eat plankton and small fish. Despite their enormous size, they survive almost exclusively on these tiny organisms by filtering vast quantities of water to capture their food.

What is unique about the whale shark's skin pattern?

The whale shark has a distinctive polka-dotted, stripey pattern on its skin, which resembles dominoes. Some countries even refer to it as the 'Domino shark.' The purpose of this pattern may be to help with camouflage in dappled light near the surface.

Why do whale sharks have a camouflage-like pattern if they are so large?

While it's not entirely understood, the best theory is that the whale shark’s skin pattern helps it blend in with the light near the surface, providing some level of camouflage. However, it's unclear why they need this camouflage, especially since their prey—plankton—doesn't require stealth.

How are whale shark pups born, and how many can a female give birth to?

Whale shark pups are born small, only about a foot long. A female whale shark can give birth to over 300 pups at a time because of their small size.

At what age can female whale sharks produce offspring?

Female whale sharks cannot produce offspring until they reach 30 years of age. This long maturation period makes them vulnerable to overfishing.

What are some risks that whale sharks face despite their large number of pups?

Whale sharks are vulnerable to overfishing, even though females give birth to many pups. Their long reproductive cycle and slow maturity make it difficult for populations to recover from overfishing.