Creature Feature. Whale Shark The Biggest Fish in the Sea.
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Transcript of Creature Feature. Whale Shark The Biggest Fish in the Sea.
Creature Feature
Whale Shark The Biggest Fish in the Sea
Fast Facts• Grow up to 60 ft in length• Weigh up to 15 tons • Life span between 70 – 100 years• Found in tropical oceans and in
the open sea
• Filter Feeder• Eats macro-algae,
plankton, krill, and small squid or vertebrates
• Mouth can be up to 5 ft wide and can contain between 300 and 350 rows of tiny teeth.
• Use sense of smell to located lunch
Distribution
Reproduction• Ovoviviparous - the
eggs remain in the body and the females give birth to live young
• Reach maturity around 25 years
Conservation
• Over-fishing and the popularity of shark fin soup have put a dent in the population of all sharks.
• The whale shark is particularly susceptible to reduced numbers because of the late age they reach sexual maturity.
• Sadly, the whale shark stands a decent chance at being harpooned before it can give birth, leading to dwindling numbers.
• Currently, the whale shark is listed as vulnerable by the World Conservation Union.