Rhincodon typus
Photo by Abe Khao Lak, used under
CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Whale Shark
The gentle giant of the ocean, this filter-feeding behemoth is distinguished by its dotted appearance and broad, flattened head. Despite its intimidating size, it's known to be peaceful, often allowing smaller aquatic creatures to hitch a ride on its vast body.
mouths can have up to 300 rows of tiny teeth
can grow up to 20m (65.6ft) long
| Taxonomic Rank | Scientific Name | Common Name |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia | Animals |
| Phylum | Chordata | Chordates |
| Class | Chondrichthyes | Rays, Sharks, and Relatives |
| Order | Orectolobiformes | |
| Family | Rhincodontidae | Whale Shark |
| Genus | Rhincodon | |
| Species | Rhincodon typus | Whale Shark |