Photo by Howard Hall

Whale sharks are grayish-brown with white spots and lines, and a white underside. Individuals are usually between 20 and 55 feet long making them the largest fish in the world. They are filter feeders that ingest plankton, fish, squids, and pelagic crustaceans as they open their very large mouths. Whale sharks are usually seen in open water, but occasionally spend time off of coral walls and steep slopes. They are found worldwide in tropical waters at depths to 100 feet.

Whale Shark
(Rhincodon typus)

	Worldwide, temperate and tropical waters
	Open water
	Plankton, baitfish, squid, and pelagic crustaceans
The status of this species is representative of the populations within the waters of this Sanctuary only, not global populations.
	Whale sharks are only seen in the sanctuary late June through September, which are the warmest months of the year.
	- Florida Museum of Natural History - University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - National Wildlife Federation