The biggest fish in the world the whale shark is considered. Its length can reach 15 meters, and weight - to 12 tons. The mouth of this shark can swallow easily the person, but you should not be afraid of it. Unlike the relatives, the whale shark does not constitute danger to the person.
FoodThe largest fish on Earth eats the smallest sea creations. On a way of food the whale sharks have similarity to baleen whales. Plankton, caviar enter their diet, is more rare – small fish.
In different countries the whale shark is called differently. On Madagascar she is called "starry", in South America - "dominoes", and in Africa "Dad shilling" for its characteristic white spots.
The huge mouth the whale shark for an hour is capable to absorb more than 5 thousand cubic meters of water. By means of gills it strains off small particles which settle in her gullet, and then get into a stomach. In a day the adult shark can eat more than 200 kg of a forage, however she does not need such portions daily. This kind of sharks can do without food long enough.
HabitatThese fishes live in tropical and subtropical waters of the World Ocean. In search of food of a shark travel much, overcoming huge distances in several thousands of kilometers. Most often whale sharks can be noticed in coastal areas of the Seychelles, the island of Madagascar and at coast of South Africa. As a rule, their emergence near the coast has seasonal nature. It is connected with spawning of local sea inhabitants. So, for example, from April to June the whale sharks gather big groups at the coral Ningaloo Reefs located along the western coast of Australia. All because at this time coastal waters literally teem with berries of polyps and fishes.
Studying whale sharksLife of whale sharks remains a riddle to this day. To the middle of the 19th century they were not even considered by a separate species of sharks. Their study becomes complicated because of a big route of their migration, and they move one by one, less often – small groups. Still remains to unknown where and as they breed, what their number. The dark body of this fish is covered with light strips and spots which form the drawing, unique for each individual, as fingerprints at people. Such way of recognition gives the chance to scientists to trace routes of migration of whale sharks.
Extinction threat
Unfortunately, whale sharks are on the verge of disappearance. Says the fact that 10 years ago scientists watched individuals up to 10 meters long about their extinction. Now the maximum size of whale sharks is only 7 meters. These fishes have no natural enemies. Mass hunting of people for these sharks is considered the main reason of disappearance. The increased demand for meat and fins of whale sharks from 80th years increased the volume of their catch from several pieces to several hundred. It led to sharp reduction of a livestock of whale sharks.
The whale shark is recognized by an endangered species. In waters of Philippines, Honduras, Australia, the Maldives and the Republic of South Africa the hunting for it is strictly forbidden.
Restoration of population happens very slowly. Whale sharks reach puberty after 20 years of life. At the same time the female bears the posterity not less than 2 years.