Whale shark
Open categories: fish, shark, animal, whale shark, pigeon shark
Scientific name: whale shark (Whale shark)
Latin: Rhincodon typus
English: Whale shark
Introduction to whale sharks
Whale sharks (Rhincodontidae) are huge and harmless sharks that are widely distributed all over the world. But mainly in tropical oceans. The scientific name is Rhincodon typus. It is the largest living fish, reaching a length of 9 meters (30 feet), and it is said that some can reach up to twice that size. The body is gray or brown, and the underside is light-colored, with obvious small yellow or white spots and narrow horizontal lines. Despite its large size, it has small teeth and feeds on plankton and small fish. It usually swims slowly on the water surface and can occasionally be hit by ships.
The whale shark is the largest shark, not a whale. It breathes with gills and is the largest fish. It is usually about 10 meters long. The largest individual is 20 meters long and weighs 10-15 tons. It is the crown of fish. The body is elongated and thick, with two significant skin ridges on each side. Eyes are small, without nictitating membrane. The mouth is huge with upper and lower collars and lip folds. The teeth are small, numerous, and conical. The blowhole is small and located behind the eye. There are 5 carp holes and they are wide. The gill rakers are horny, divided into many branchlets, and formed into a filter port shape. There are 2 dorsal fins, the second dorsal fin is opposite to the brachial fin. The pectoral fins are broad. Caudal fin bifurcated. The body is grayish-brown or greenish-brown, with many yellow spots and vertical horizontal stripes.
Distribution area
Domestically distributed in the South China Sea, Taiwan Strait, East China Sea, and southern Yellow Sea; abroad, it is distributed in tropical and temperate sea areas.
Living area
It lives in the middle and upper layers of warm oceanic areas. It is mild-tempered and does not attack people. Whale sharks swim slowly and often float on the water to bask in the sun. Feeds on plankton, crustaceans, molluscs and small fish. The output is not large.
The common name of the whale shark
The common name of the whale shark is the tofu shark and the giant shark. It is a global migratory fish species and is the largest known ocean fish. It can grow to 20 meters and weighs 30 It is more than metric tons in size and is distributed along the coasts of temperate and tropical seas or in the ocean. It likes to swim on the surface and feeds on animal plankton, crustaceans, squid, etc. It has a gentle temperament and is oviviparous.
Food of whale sharks
The movement of whale sharks is closely related to the growth and decline of plankton, the spawning of coral reefs and changes in water temperature. In the Western Pacific, whale sharks often swim in the Kuroshio Current Domain found. Whale sharks are directly related to the emergence of surface migratory fish such as mackerel schools. Analysis of the stomach contents of whale sharks shows that whale sharks feed on small fish, shrimp and plankton as their main food.
Ovoviviparous whale sharks
Whale sharks are ovoviviparous species. It has been recorded that a pregnant whale shark was pregnant with more than 300 fetuses. This may be a cartilage fish (shark and stingray) species with the highest number of fetuses per fetus. Although there are many records of mature whale sharks being caught, pregnant individuals are rarely found. It is speculated that whale sharks are very late maturing and the chance of pregnancy is very low.
Can whale sharks be eaten?
The meat can be eaten, the skin can be tanned, the fins can be processed into shark fins, the liver can be used to extract cod liver oil, and the bones and offal can be used to make fish meal.
Protect Whale Sharks
Xinhua News Agency, Manila News: Residents of Donsol Town in the Philippines recently held a unique whale shark festival, calling on people to care for this docile animal to promote the local ecology Tourism development.
The whale shark is the largest fish in the world, with a body length of up to 15 meters, three times that of the great white shark, and a weight of 15 tons. But what’s interesting is that this shark has a very docile temperament, and Filipinos have always called it the “gentle giant of the ocean.”
Four years ago, a group of whale sharks appeared in the waters near the town of Donsol. Since then, locals have held a series of whale shark celebrations every year out of love for these behemoths. At the celebration, people painted huge portraits of whale sharks to explain why the marine environment should be protected. Students also come together to hold various fun activities around whale sharks. Tourists who come here to participate in ecological tours and enjoy the fun of communicating with whale sharks.
In order to protect the living conditions of whale sharks, the World Wildlife Fund has given strong support to the Whale Shark Festival in Donsol, Philippines. The people of Donsol hope that with the World Wildlife Fund working with them, the adorable whale sharks can live nearby for a long time.
In order to protect the living conditions of whale sharks, the World Wildlife Fund has given strong support to the Whale Shark Festival in Donsol, Philippines. The people of Donsol hope that with the World Wildlife Fund working with them, the adorable whale sharks can live nearby for a long time.
Protecting wild animals means protecting nature and protecting humans themselves. People all over the world have taken action to dedicate their love to wild animals and protect a large number of wild animals.
As a pet
Putting a rockery and making a fountain in the living room is the taste of farmer entrepreneurs. Placing a large fish tank in the living room is a middle-class pastime. Which aquatic officer should be the background in the living room? This really requires some financial resources. The most outrageous thing is what's in this big water tank. Forget about dolphins and sharks, these things can be seen in most ordinary aquariums, but there is actually a whale shark - the largest fish in the world. This shows that Gates' wealth is not just about money. It also reminds us that the whale shark is not only rare and endangered, but it is also one of the oldest creatures in the world. It is not a whale, but a shark. For such a huge body, it eats ocean plankton.
This means that its digestion efficiency is very low, and its efficiency in converting food into nutrients required for physical energy is very low, so it needs to eat continuously. Whale sharks are one of the most mysterious creatures on earth. Scientists have been tracking whale sharks for many years and still cannot fully understand their migration trajectories. Needless to say, the distance it migrates in the ocean is long. Based on the above, how Bill Gates artificially breeds this whale shark has become a question worth studying.
Secondly, how big does this tank need to be to meet the basic needs of a whale shark? Thirdly, these tons of seawater just on the seashore also require the support of a complete hydraulic system. If you live inland, or go inland, the replacement cost of transporting so much seawater is simply staggering. Unless seawater is introduced as running water.
The most important thing is that taking care of a whale shark is not a pet like a puppy or kitten. The problem is not something that can be solved by just finding one or two veterinarians. That requires a scientific research team. In other words, if you are a scientist or a zoologist, you can help Gates raise whale sharks. Now I know how rich people become. It is said in "Style" that being rich is not just a matter of money. Of course, rich people cannot live without money. Money is the basic prerequisite. What the rich need more is extreme imagination. We all still think that having a house and a car means we are rich. At worst, some international students think that if we buy the best car every two days, we are rich. It can only be said that we are still at the very bottom of our understanding of what 'rich' is. The most primitive stage. At this time, Bill Gates was already working hard to apply the most cutting-edge scientific results to decorate homes.