whale shark - a real sea giant that plows the waves of warm seas and oceans is like a living submarine.It grows up to fifteen meters in length and reaches an impressive weight of 30 tons.But these creatures did not justify the terrible name of "shark", because they eat only plankton, and the nature of inert and completely harmless.
Whale sharks are still little studied species, though their area of distribution is very wide: they are found in all temperate and tropical seas oceans except for the Mediterranean Sea.Much of the information about the way of life and even about the size of these good-natured giants based only on stories and speculation, not confirmed by facts.
known that on average whale shark reaches 12 meters in length, and females with the larger than males.During the day they are looking for food, rising to the sun-warmed surface of the water, and at night again descend to a depth of about 700 meters.These sharks swim slowly enough, their average speed is only 1 km / h.The reason is that they use mobile tail, most fish, as waves move back of the torso from side to side.
If the need arises, the whale shark can make great strides and develop a speed of up to 4 km / h.But this happens very rarely because the shark is no need to chase the prey.The food itself is literally floats into her mouth.
Whale shark scientists refer to migratory fish, but direct evidence of this fact yet.Their movement over long distances may be associated with the search for a more nourishing environment.As you know, in March and April of each year sharks gather in the area of the continental shelf off the western and central coast of Australia.Most of them observed near Ningaloo Reef.
Whale sharks often stick together in small flocks of up to ten individuals.Less can be found sharks single or large clusters of these fish.Maximum concentration was observed off the coast of Yucatan in 2009, when observers counted more than four hundred of these giants.
Whale extremely lethargic and slow in comparison with the other members of the shark.This is often used by scuba divers, podplyvaya close to sharks and even climbing on them while driving.
Appearance
whale shark has a flattened head with a huge mouth cross.She has very large gill slits.On the back is easily visible characteristic pattern - light spots and stripes arranged in a checkerboard pattern on a dark blue or gray background.Her belly is white.Along the trunk visible longitudinal projections.They probably play a role in coordinating the movements of the fish.
in the jaws of a shark are many small teeth - up to 15 thousand.But catering they do not play any role.
Scientists believe that the whale shark lives about 60 years.
Power
basic diet - plankton, nekton, small crustaceans, small schooling fish, at least - squid and tuna.The whale shark is looking for the greatest concentration of food by smell.She visually impaired eyes, nostrils, so replace her sight.
Whale sharks actively suck up the water like a vacuum cleaner, and then passed through the filter - their gills.So food gets into their mouth.Within an hour, the shark "pumps" through itself nearly 60 thousand liters of water.
Periodically, the basking shark "coughs" clearing their gills and freeing them from adhering residues of plankton.
Reproduction sharks
This process is known very little, though surveillance and has been going on for over a hundred years.It is now known that this fish is ovoviviparous.The capsules are developing eggs, embryos that hatch still in the womb.Newborns akulyata very small relative to the size of the adult body - their length is about 50 cm. This small sharks have large internal supply of nutrients, allowing them to go without food for more than two weeks.
