Whale Shark

Common Name: Whale Shark Latin Name: Rhincodon typus Location: Open waters of the tropical oceans, typically between 30°N and 35°S Conservation Status: Endangered

The whale shark is the largest non-cetacean animal in the world, and the largest fish known to have lived. Even though they are the largest fish in the world, the whale shark can only swallow small prey due to it’s very narrow throat, which is compared to the size of a quarter. They are one of only three known filter feeding shark species, and have a diet that consists of zooplankton, the tiniest creatures in the ocean.

Threats to whale sharks include entanglement in fishing nets, boat strikes, ingestion of marine debris and micro plastics, and irresponsible whale shark tourism. Whale sharks are also illegally killed every year for their fins, skins, and oil. Bans on fishing for whale sharks and selling or trafficking in their meat have been in place since 1998 in Taiwan and slightly later in other nations in the region.

Utila, the smallest of Honduras' major Bay Islands, is one of the few places in the world that experiences whale shark sighting year round, and is a hotspot for whale shark tourism. The Whale Shark & Oceanic Research Center in Honduras has been gathering data on the whale shark population since 1997, and has established whale shark encounter guidelines to promote responsible whale shark encounters.

Photographed at Georgia Aquarium Nikon D5300 May 5, 2022