Whale Sharks 101
Known as the largest fish in the sea, spanning an average length between 18 and 32 feet (5.5-9.8 m), whale sharks (also known by their scientific name, Rhincodon typus) have gained a reputation for being gentle giants. But size isn’t the only distinguishing feature of these aquatic animals.
We’ve learned a great deal about whale shark behavior and cognition through care and studies in the field, in the laboratory, and through our unique position as the only aquarium in the western hemisphere to display these elusive animals. Whale sharks are large and can appear intimidating, but despite their size, they are generally harmless to humans given their feeding habits and mild temperament. Whale sharks are truly gentle giants.
Keep the Food Flowing
Unlike most shark species, a whale shark’s mouth is located at the front of its head (terminal) instead of the underside of the rostrum (subterminal). Inside, whale sharks have about 300 rows of tiny teeth pointed backward along the inner surface of each jaw, but have no fear because these teeth aren’t designed for eating. Whale sharks are filter feeders. They use a technique called “cross-flow filtration” to filter their food from the water, meaning water is directed away through their gills while particles, such as plankton, continue toward the back of the mouth. Whale sharks are usually found offshore but will sometimes come closer to land, entering lagoons, bays, or coral atolls and frequenting shallow water areas to feed during seasonal plankton blooms.
Georgia Aquarium is home to whale sharks and is the only aquarium in the United States where you can visit these majestic sharks.
Do you think you could spot the difference?
Setting themselves apart from one another, every whale shark has a unique pattern of spots and stripes on their skin that can be used to identify individual sharks. Just like your own fingerprints, no two whale sharks have the same spot and stripe pattern.
Want to see these majestic creatures up close? Visit them at Georgia Aquarium!
Whale Shark Myths & Marine Realities
People often wonder — “Is a whale shark a shark, a whale, or both?” We’re here to answer that question, debunk some common myths and misconceptions, and get to the truth about this marine animal.
Here are some of the top fun facts about whale sharks:
- Whale sharks are sharks, not whales.
- The whale shark is the largest fish known to have lived on this planet (ever!).
- Whale sharks have a cartilaginous skeleton and do not fossilize well.
- Their mouths can exceed four feet across, but their throat is only the size of a quarter.
- Whale sharks are found worldwide in the tropical Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
- Whale sharks are listed as “Vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List since their populations have decreased dramatically in recent years due to heavy fishing driven by demand in Asia for meat and fins.
Whale Shark Conservation & Research at Georgia Aquarium
Whale sharks are the largest and one of the most mysterious fish on Earth, but their survival is threatened, and they need our help. Here at Georgia Aquarium, we are committed to advancing whale shark conservation and protection through science and education, advocacy, and connecting and inspiring millions of people every year. We are the only aquarium in the Western Hemisphere providing the unique care and habitat required for whale sharks to thrive, allowing millions of people to connect with this rare, awe-inspiring species while promoting its conservation. Whale sharks have been under-studied and mostly unknown to science globally until just a few decades ago. When Georgia Aquarium introduced whale sharks to the American public in 2005, it greatly advanced people’s curiosity, awareness, and engagement with conservation for this once little-known, and now beloved, species.
Famous ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau only ever saw two whale sharks in his years of experience.
Most people will never see a whale shark in the ocean. In fact, famous ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau only ever saw two whale sharks in his years of experience. We understand that people care about what they know. That’s why, we aim to advance the public’s connection with the elusive whale shark to gain attention and support. Georgia Aquarium serves a critical role in the United States to spark the public’s imagination, inspire awe and fascination, and spark curiosity and adoration for whale sharks – which springboards funding, advocacy, and protection that will help save them from extinction.
Inside the Walls of the Aquarium
Animal care, dive, life support systems, environmental health lab, commissary, research and veterinary staff all are involved in the daily care of our whale sharks. From the daily maintenance of the Ocean Voyager Gallery our whale sharks call home, monitoring the water quality and ensuring upkeep of Georgia Aquarium’s aquatic exhibits, to preparing and organizing all food, our teams are working hard to help protect the species for generations to come.
Georgia Aquarium recycles 99% of the water throughout all exhibits, over 11 million gallons in total. Over 6 million gallons of which are used within the Ocean Voyager Gallery—home of our whale sharks.
Outside the Walls of the Aquarium
We formed a unique partnership with Taiwan researchers and wildlife officials, National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU) and Taiwan’s Fisheries Research Institute (TFRI), to advance scientific knowledge on sharks and rays through a long-term field research collaboration in Taiwanese national waters. This research will inform efforts to conserve and protect the endangered whale shark, provide the public with greater awareness of their plight, and ultimately, submit recommendations to the government to influence appropriate policies.
Help us do an Ocean of Good
Make a lot of room for someone new in your family photos and adopt a whale shark. Your contribution will support Georgia Aquarium’s vital education programs including STEM camps, robotics workshops, teacher professional development, and community outreach. When you adopt a shark you get your very own animal plush toy to bring with you wherever you go, a 5×7 adoption certificate that includes an area to write in the adopter’s name, a drawstring backpack to carry your belongings and new best friend, and a 4×6 fact card that displays unique characteristics about your very own adopted whale shark.
Uncovering the Mystery of Whale Shark Migration and Mating
Whale sharks can be found in warm temperate seas swimming worldwide in the tropical Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans between about 30 degrees North and 35 degrees South – that’s almost the entire length of Africa. While they are typically found in deep waters offshore, whale sharks do swim to shallow water and upwelling coastal areas near continental drop-offs to feed.
Whale sharks have a habit of migrating long distances to feeding grounds. In fact, according to one tracking study, a whale shark traveled around the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean to a site off the Yucatan Peninsula. Imagine making that trek at just 2.9mph (the average speed of a whale shark). Georgia Aquarium and partners have also located, attached satellite tags, tracked and followed whale sharks in St. Helena, Mexico, Galapagos, and Indonesia, to get a more complete picture of whale shark ecology, migration, and behavior.
Marine biologists continuously study whale sharks to better understand these mysterious animals. However, scientists have only twice observed whale sharks’ mating behaviors in their natural habitat, and never in an aquarium setting. Researchers consider the reproductive habits of whale sharks to be one of the animal’s greatest secrets. Only one pregnant female – caught by a commercial fishing boat in 1995 in Taiwanese waters – has ever been observed during its reproductive life cycle, but births remain unrecorded. While study is still needed to fill the gaps, what we do know is that whale sharks are ovoviviparous, meaning an embryo is formed within an egg, which then hatches in a whale shark mother’s uterus. At term, the young are released into the sea fully formed. There were more than 300 pups in the only litter that has ever been documented.
Today, whale shark populations are declining, and the species is at risk of extinction. The best hope for protecting whale sharks is to understand them – their movements, the habitats they need protected, and what is posing the greatest threat to survival.
Opportunity Awaits: Get up close and personal with whale sharks.
Navigating the Waters of Whale Shark Encounters
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, over a third of shark and ray species are currently at risk of extinction. In an effort to enable humans and sharks to interact safely, shark ecotourism has seen tremendous growth, but these experiences are often poorly understood. Whale shark tourism can either support or compromise whale shark conservation efforts. There are over 46 sites globally promoting whale shark tourism, with a wide variation in standards of operation and interpretation. The production, distribution, and adoption of unified tourism guidelines could help ensure safe operations and encourage pro-conservation behaviors in tourists following their experience. Controlled interactions with whale sharks could help reduce one of the many threats they face with human interference through unregulated tourism. However, unfortunately, direct human interaction is only one of the threats to whale sharks. These gentle giants face other dangers, including entanglement in fishing nets, boat strikes, and ingestion of marine debris and microplastics.
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Inside the Walls of the Aquarium
Animal care, dive, life support systems, environmental health lab, commissary, research and veterinary staff all are involved in the daily care of our whale sharks. From the daily maintenance of the Ocean Voyager Gallery our whale sharks call home, monitoring the water quality and ensuring upkeep of Georgia Aquarium’s aquatic exhibits, to preparing and organizing all food, our teams are working hard to help protect the species for generations to come.
We offer guests opportunities of a lifetime, including:
- Diving with whale sharks. Our Journey with Gentle Giants is the only opportunity in the world where you are guaranteed to dive with whale sharks, manta rays and thousands of other fish. We do require proof of autonomous Open Water SCUBA certification from a recognized organization and participants must be 12+ years old; anyone under 18 must have a participating adult.
- Swimming with whale sharks. Not to be confused with our diving option, you can still join our Journey with Gentle Giants by snorkeling with our whale sharks in the Ocean Voyager exhibit.
- Behind the Seas Tour. With a Georgia Aquarium guide, see the majestic whale sharks from the top side of the habitat as our team works behind the scenes. If you’re lucky, you may even get to watch the team feed the whale sharks!
All of these options are designed with your safety in mind. Whale sharks are harmless to humans, and typically interact calmly with visitors, plus our divers will be by your side at all times.
Outside the Walls of the Aquarium
We formed a unique partnership with Taiwan researchers and wildlife officials, National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU), and Taiwan’s Fisheries Research Institute (TFRI), to advance scientific knowledge on sharks and rays through a long-term field research collaboration in Taiwanese national waters. This research will inform efforts to conserve and protect the endangered whale shark, provide the public with greater awareness of their plight, and ultimately, submit recommendations to the government to influence appropriate policies.
How You Can Help: Adopt a Whale Shark
Make a lot of room for someone new in your family photos and adopt a whale shark. Your contribution will support Georgia Aquarium’s vital education programs including STEM camps, robotics workshops, teacher professional development, and community outreach. When you adopt a shark you get your very own animal plush toy to bring with you wherever you go, a 5×7 adoption certificate that includes an area to write in the adopter’s name, a drawstring backpack to carry your belongings, and new best friend, and a 4×6 fact card that displays unique characteristics about your very own adopted whale shark.
Join the Cause: Help us do an ocean of good.
Riding the Educational Tide with a Splash of Whale Sharks
FOR TEACHERS:
We’re learning more about whale sharks every day through extensive research, and we want to share those findings with you and your classroom. We have a number of educational programs that allow you to take your students for a deep dive in the aquatic realm for an immersive, standards-based learning environment in the classroom or at Georgia Aquarium.
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Self-Guided Field Trips: Georgia Aquarium’s Education General Admission gives classes the opportunity to explore our many diverse habitats and species on their own. In this self-guided experience, all tickets include Aquarium admission, all available presentations and all available animal galleries.
SEA Program
Georgia Aquarium offers a Sponsored Education Admissions (SEA) Grant to Title I schools and select non-profit organizations operating in the State of Georgia. This grant provides free admission when visiting with a field trip, ensuring that diverse audiences, regardless of economic status, have an opportunity to experience the wonders of the Aquarium.
Instructor-Led Field Trips: Our engaging programs provide focused learning opportunities where students can ask questions, collaborate and problem solve with the guidance of our Georgia Aquarium Educators. Programs are aligned to Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE) and include a grade-specific, downloadable Teacher Guide with pre- and post-visit activities. At the end of the program, groups will have the remainder of their time to enjoy the various galleries and presentations at the Aquarium.
Lesson Plans: We’re also happy to provide educators with resources to utilize in the classroom and at the Aquarium through a variety of lesson plans.
Creative Resources: Students can enjoy a coloring collection by Georgia Aquarium to spark creativity.
The fun doesn’t end at the doors of the aquarium: Log on at home and watch our whale shark webcam. It’s always available to view and free of charge.
Sources:
https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/animal/whale-shark/
https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/whale-shark
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/rhincodon-typus/
Georgia Aquarium is a leading 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Atlanta, Ga. that is Humane Certified by American Humane and accredited by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Georgia Aquarium is committed to working on behalf of all marine life through education, preservation, exceptional animal care, and research across the globe. Georgia Aquarium continues its mission each day to inspire, educate, and entertain its millions of guests about the aquatic biodiversity throughout the world through its engaging exhibits and tens of thousands of animals across its eight major galleries.
