Also known as Sir Fish by the Vietnamese, the Whale shark is a slow-moving filter feeding shark and the largest known of the fish species. The largest confirmed Whale Shark was 41.50ft in length and weighed more than 47,000lbs. They can live for 70-100yrs and hold many records for sheer size in the animal kingdom, most notably being by far the largest living non-mammalian vertebrate.
Although Whale sharks have very large mouths (upwards of 5ft wide), as filter feeders, these magnanimous creatures feed mainly on plankton. Plankton are microscopic plants and animals. The Whale shark uses 10 filter pads along with 300 rows of tiny teeth to assist in eating its food. It is capable of diving to depths of more than 4,219ft in order to feed! This brilliant creature is endeared by many cultures including but not limited to the Vietnamese, the Japanese and the Philippine peoples.
By Alex Isaacson
