Whale Sharks
Josie Dichoso Period 9 May 16, 2016
Habitat
Movement
Body Covering
Diet
Reproduction
(a-z animals)
Adaptations
Whale sharks are migratory creatures that tend to be nomadic. Researchers believe that the whale shark migrates at various times of the year, but there isn't any solid evidence to back this up yet. While it tends to be a solo swimmer, it has been spotted schooling with its brothers and sisters when food is abundant.(How Stuff Works)
Whale sharks are extremely docile creatures. They are not known for attacking humans. In fact, many people who dive or snorkel enjoy swimming alongside whale sharks.
Whale sharks' predators include other sharks, killer whales and humans.
Facts/Other Info
- Whale sharks can weigh up to about 20 tons!
- Whale sharks can live up to 100-150 years old
- Whale sharks are not whales! They are actually sharks and that look like and have the size of a whale.
- Their size can be around 39-59 ft
- They are cold-blooded animals
- The whale shark's scientific name: Rhincodon typus
- Whale sharks usually don't travel in groups, but a whale shark group is called a school
Works Cited
"Whale Shark." nature.org. Nature Conservancy, 2016. n.d. Web. 9 May 2016.
http://www.nature.org/newsfeatures/specialfeatures/animals/fish/whale-shark.xml
Fraser, Stephen. "Gentle Giants." Current Science 25 Nov. 2011: n. pag. SIRS
Discoverer. Web. 7 May 2016. <http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/
discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000320170>
"Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus)." Encyclopedia of Endangered Species. Vol. 2.
Farmington Hills MI: Gale, Research in Context, 2009. N. pag. GALE
Research. Web. 6 May 2016. <http://go.galegroup.com/ps/
retrieve.do?sort=RELEVANCE&docType=Topic+overview&tabID=T001&prodId=MSIC&searchId
=R4&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchType=BasicSearchForm&contentSegment=¤t
Position=1&searchResultsType=MultiTab&inPS=true&userGroupName=auro18260&docId=GAL E%7CCV2644720462&contentSet=GALE%7CCV2644720462>.
"Whale Shark." animals.nationalgeographic.com. National Geographic Partners, 1996.
n.d. Web. 6 May 2016. <http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/
fish/whale-shark/>.
WHALE SHARK." enchantedlearning.com. Enchanted Learning, 1999. n.d. Web. 9 May 2016.<http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/sharks/species/ Whaleshark.shtml>.
"Whale Sharks." sheppardsoftware.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 May 2016.
<http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/animals/fish/
shark_whaleshark.htm>.
Dawes, John. Fish: Sharks. London: Brown Reference Group, 1 December 2008. n.d.Print. Vol. 32 of World of Animals. 49 vols. World Of Animals.
Bryant, Charles W. "How Whale Sharks Work." HowStuffWorks.com. howstuffworks, 1998. n.d. Web. 11 May 2016. <http://animals.howstuffworks.com/fish/sharks/
whale-shark.htm>.]
- "Whale shark (Rhincodon typus)." arkive.org. Wildscreen Arkive, 26 March 2008. n.d. Web. 11 May 2016. <http://www.arkive.org/whale-shark/rhincodon-typus/ image-G25047.html>.
- "Whale Shark." a-z animals.com. A-Z Animals, 2008. Web. 15 May 2016. <http://a-z-animals.com/animals/whale-shark/>.