The Whale Shark is one of the fish that raises the most concerns. For example, is it a shark or a whale? Undoubtedly, it is a shark and has the physiology of any other fish, however, its name was given by its enormous size, since it can reach 12 meters in length and weigh more than 20 tons.
The whale shark inhabits the oceans and seas near the tropics, as it needs a warm habitat, being found at a depth of approximately 700 meters.
If you want to know more about this extraordinary species, in this article on our site we will tell you about whale shark feeding.
The digestive system of the whale shark
The whale shark has a large mouth, so much so that its oral cavity can measure approximately 1.5 meters wide, its jaw is very strong and robust and in it we find many rows made up of small and sharp teeth.
However, the whale shark eats its food in a similar way to baleen whales (such as the blue whale), since the multitude of teeth it has do not play a determining role in its feeding.
The whale shark sucks in a large amount of water and food by closing its mouth, and then the water is filtered through its gills and expelled. On the other hand, all the food that exceeds 3 millimeters in diameter, is trapped in its oral cavity and is later swallowed.
What does the whale shark eat?
A whale shark's mouth cavity is so large it could fit a seal, yet this species of fish feeds on small life forms, especially krill, phytoplankton and algae, although it can also consume small crustaceans, such as squid and crab larvae, and small fish, such as sardines, mackerel, tuna and anchovies.
The whale shark will consume an amount of food equal to 2% of its body mass each day. However, it can also go without eating for some periods, as has an energy reserve system.
How do whale sharks hunt?
The whale shark locates its food by olfactory cues, this is due in part to the tiny size of its eyes and the poor placement of its these.
To ingest its food, the whale shark stands upright, keeping its oral cavity close to the surface, and instead of constantly ingesting water, is capable of pump it through its gills, filtering, as we mentioned before, the food.
The whale shark, a vulnerable species
According to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), the whale shark is a species vulnerable to the risk of extinction, which is why the fishing and sale of this species is prohibited and penalized.
Some whale sharks remain in captivity in Japan and Atlanta, where they are studied and their reproduction is expected to be facilitated, which must also be main object of study since very little is known about the reproductive process of the whale shark.
