Whale Shark

No good photo of this species is available yet, so this Illustration was created with ChatGPT Image 2.5. It is an attempt to get the anatomy and features right, and may contain small errors.

Name:	Whale Shark
Scientific Name:	Rhincodon typus
Family:	Whale Sharks
Scientific Family:	Rhincodontidae
Source:	WoRMS AphiaID 105847
Size:	20 - 45 ft.
Depth Range:	In shallow waters (0 – 15 ft.)
Sightings:	Almost never seen

The Whale Shark has a gray to gray-brown body that fades to white underneath. Large white spots and thin pale lines cover its body. Three raised ridges run along each side toward its tail, and its first dorsal fin sits well behind the middle of its body. Its spot pattern is unique to each Whale Shark.

The Whale Shark is mainly an open-water animal but may briefly cruise near the coastline. It filters plankton, small fish, squid and crustaceans from the water and may travel long distances to feeding areas.