Whale Shark - biology.

Whale Shark - biology. Whale Shark, common name for the largest known fish (see Shark), native to tropical seas around the world. The whale shark may attain a length of more than 15 m (more than 50 ft) and weigh more than 18 metric tons. Deep blue above and white below, it is darker in color than most sharks, but its body is marked with white spots and vertical lines; on its head and back are several broad, longitudinal ridges. The animal has a wide, flattened snout with the mouth at the front, not below, and its jaws hold numerous small teeth. The gill openings are exceptionally large. The whale shark feeds on small fishes and plankton strained out of the seawater by its long gill rakers; it is harmless to humans. Young whale sharks hatch from fertilized eggs inside the body of the female and are then born alive to the outside. Scientific classification: The whale shark makes up the family Rhincodontidae of the order Lamniformes. It is classified as Rhincodon typus. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.