International Whale shark day is observed every year on August 30 across the globe.
About Whale shark:
It is the largest fish in the worldand the largest fish known to have lived on this planet.
They are one of only three species of filter feeding sharks.
Distribution: They can be found in all temperate and tropical oceansaround the world, except the Mediterranean Sea.
Appearance
They are dark gray on top and light underneath, with a series of light spots or stripes covering the dark parts of their bodies. This helps to camouflage them as they swim.
Unlike most shark species, its mouth is located at the front of the head(terminal) instead of the underside of the rostrum (subterminal).
They are filter feeders and can neither bite nor chew. They can process more than 6,000 litres of water an hour through their gills.
Inside the mouth are specialized flaps called velums. These stop the backflow of water as the whale shark closes its mouth, preventing the loss of food.
Food Habit: They feed on planktonand travel large distances to find enough food to sustain their huge size, and to reproduce.
They also eat small and large fish and mollusks, including sardines, anchovies, mackerels, squid, and even small tuna and albacore.
Conservation Status:
IUCN: Endangered
Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule I
Threats: The whale sharks continue to face challenges primarily due to bycatch and accidental capture in fishing nets, illegal hunting and habitat degradation.
A global study indicates that over the past 75 years, the world’s whale shark population has decreased by 50%.
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