The Whale Shark: Monstrous or Docile?

The Whale Shark

Whale sharks in Costa Rica are considered to be the biggest fish in the sea! Their length can extend up to 40 feet and some whale sharks can grow even more than that approximate figure. The whale sharks in the Pacific area have a variety of sea food to choose from, being the largest underwater sea mammal. But surprisingly, they exist solely on the plankton found in the sea and sometimes the small fish trapped in it. They do not go hunting for bigger fish or devour entire schools of prey. They focus more on these plants and small animals or fish lurking near the area which makes up their entire meal. Whale sharks in Costa Rica usually travel with their mouths wide open; also easier to gain access to any available food on the way. They swim near the upper areas of the sea and are close to the surface. They do not dwell in the depths of the waters. The whale shark feeds in a very interesting way. It opens it’s huge gaping mouth and takes all the plankton, water, small fish and other animals inside it’s jaws. Then it closes the huge mouth and ‘filters’ out the water through it’s gills, effectively leaving only the food trapped inside it’s mouth.

Physiology and Habitat of the Whale Shark

The whale shark has a flat lengthened disk shaped head. Its snout is blunted at the end and rounds off the entire mouth/ jaw. From the nostril area, there are small protrusions like barbells coming out of the sides. Gray and brown shades dominate the upper area and sides of the whale shark’s body. There are light crisscrossing lines on the back of the shark white dots spotting most of them along the way. The underside of the whale shark is white in color. The dorsal fins on the whale shark’s body are situated at the rear end of it’s massive body which makes them look like a sort of tail.

The whale shark usually inhabits warmer waters and prefers the area of the Pacific Ocean. There are plenty of whale sharks spotted in the Pacific beaches by excited tourists and various scuba divers out to explore the wonders of the sea. During the spring, it is said that the whale sharks migrate to the Western seas in places near Australia. The main reason for this is the large quantity of plankton available in the waters which keeps the whale shark comfortably fed for months to come. Despite being the biggest and most formidable looking fish in the sea, the whale sharks are surprisingly gentle and are not violent by nature. Often, it has been seen that whale sharks allow swimmers and scuba divers to catch a ride with them while trailing the Pacific waters.

Life Expectancy of the Whale Sharks

Whale sharks at one point in time, populated most of the tropical waters along the earth but these days, their numbers are dwindling fast. These gentle sharks are being hunted in the waters surrounding Asia. A lot of people take advantage of the whale shark’s docile nature and thus their lives are in serious danger now.

Video for Whale Shark

References

http://www.ecointeractivevacations.com/index.php/travel-blog/215-whale-sharks-of-