Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus)

Scientific Snapshot

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Scientific Name: Rhincodon typus

Common Names: Whale shark, domino shark

Average Size: Up to 12 meters (40 feet); some recorded over 18 meters

Habitat: Warm tropical and temperate oceans worldwide

Diet: Filter feeder — plankton, small fish, krill

Conservation Status: Endangered (IUCN Red List)

Range: Found in open ocean, near coastal feeding zones, and around coral reefs