subject: The world's biggest fish – a whale shark by any other name [print this page] The world's biggest fish a whale shark by any other name
As the largest fish in the sea, the mammoth whale shark is full of surprises. First up: it has its pick of the ocean for dinner and it favours plankton. Secondly, it is a reassuringly docile creature. So, unlike the great white its better known carnivorous cousin with an (often exaggerated) ferocious reputation the whale shark doesn't eat mammals and poses little threat to humans. In fact, the whale shark's many teeth play no role in its feeding as it is a filter feeder' and so feeds by straining suspended matter and food particles from water.
The Rhincodon typus (as it is officially known) was distinguished in South Africa in 1892, although the species is thought to have originated around 60 million years ago. Despite inhabiting much of the world's waters, the whale shark has been deemed a vulnerable species by International Union for Conservation of Nature. Enjoying a lifespan of 70 to 100 years and with the female able to carry up to 300 eggs at any one time, this vulnerable' status is worrying perhaps even more so due to the fact that this can be largely attributed to commercial fishing. In 1998, the Philippines banned all fishing, selling, importing and exporting of whale sharks for commercial purposes, as did India in 2001 and Taiwan in 2007. Yet the demand for tofu shark' meat remains and, despite national bans, illegal whale shark hunting persists.
Found in tropical, warm oceans, the whale shark can reach sizes of around 13 metres in length. Each year, between March and July, hundreds of whale sharks migrate to the continental shelf of Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia, where coral spawning provides the incomprehensibly large fish with an abundant supply of plankton.
Many holidays in the Maldives, Malaysia and South Africa allow tourists to view these fascinating creatures in their natural habitat.. Diving with these denizens of the deep is the best way to capture a glimpse up-close. And up-close it may be whale sharks have been known to play with divers and even allow swimmers to hitch a ride. As with all wildlife, care should be taken particularly to avoid an unintentional strike from their huge tail fin and the diving etiquette of no touching' most definitely applies. It's best to treat this gentle giant with the same respect that the people of Vietnam do, as they refer to the whale shark as Ca Ong' literally meaning Sir Fish'.
