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Whale Shark Facts & Worksheets

The largest fish species in the world’s oceans is whale sharks. On average, they can grow up to 12 meters long. They are found in all the oceans except the Mediterranean Sea.

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The largest fish species in the world’s oceans is whale sharks. On average, they can grow up to 12 meters long. In fact, the largest confirmed whale shark measured 18.8 meters in length. Whale sharks are not whales but sharks that feed exclusively on plankton and small fish. They are found in all the oceans except the Mediterranean Sea. As massive as they are, they are known as “gentle giants.” They have huge heads, small eyes, rough skin, five pairs of gills, two dorsal fins, and two lateral pectoral fins. 

See the fact file below for more information about Whale Sharks, or you can download our 25-page Whale Sharks worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

TAXONOMY

  • The whale shark is the only member of the genus Rhincodon.
  • More information on its scientific classification is as follows: whale sharks belong to Kingdom Animalia; the phylum Chordata; the class Chondrichthyes, which includes cartilaginous fishes like sharks, batoids, and stingrays; the order Orectolobiformes, also known as carpet sharks; and the family Rhincodontidae.
  • The full scientific name of a whale shark is Rhincodon typus.
  • Whale sharks belong to the order of sharks, not whales, a common misconception because of its name.

BODY DESCRIPTION AND PHYSIOLOGY

  • The head of a whale shark is big, broad, and flattened.
  • Its mouth is not like those of other sharks: it is found at the front of the head, not on the underside.
  • The mouth of a whale shark is huge, especially compared to how small its eyes are, which are set at the front corners of its head.
  • Their snouts are rounded and situated above the mouth, with short barbels sticking from their nostrils.
  • Inside a whale shark’s mouth are over 300 rows of teeth (10 per row) and 20 filter pads used for filter-feeding.
  • Each tooth measures less than one inch long.
  • Despite having thousands of tiny teeth, they do not use them to bite or chew.
  • These teeth help them eat plankton, and small fish and shrimp.
  • For breathing and processing water, whale sharks use their five big pairs of gills.
  • Whale sharks have the ability to process more than 6,000 liters of water per hour using their large gills.
  • They sieve plankton and fish through their gills by drawing in a gulp of plankton-saturated water, then closing their mouths before expelling the water.
  • In this case, the gills can be likened to strainers that filter out the water and keep organisms less than 2 centimeters in diameter in their mouth.
  • One of the whale shark’s unique physical characteristics is found on the surface of their eyeballs called dermal denticles.
  • These dermal denticles can be described as teeth in the eyes.
  • These denticle structures help in shielding their eyes from potential damage. 
  • Located just behind their eyes are their spiracles, openings that lead to an animal’s respiratory system.
  • Whale sharks are identifiable by their dark gray skin that is very rough and can grow up to 15 centimeters (5.9 inches) in thickness.
  • Their belly is typically white with pale gray or white spots and stripes that are distinctive to every individual.
  • In other words, a whale shark’s unique spots are synonymous with a human being’s fingerprints!
  • On the sides, three prominent ridges can be seen on whale sharks.
  • These ridges begin from the head and end at the caudal peduncle.
  • The whale shark has two dorsal fins and two lateral pectoral fins.
  • It also has a pair of pelvic fins and one fin at the medial anal part.
  • Whale sharks are cartilaginous, meaning their skeleton are not made of bone but of cartilage, just like other sharks, rays, and skates.

SIZE AND SPEED

  • Whale sharks as they are the world’s largest fish species.
  • On average, they can grow up to 12 meters long and weigh up to 15 tons.
  • While the maximum size of whale sharks is not definite, they reportedly could reach a length of approximately 18 meters.
  • As big as they are, whale sharks actually move slowly.
  • They swim at an average speed of no more than 3 miles per hour (4 kilometers per hour).
  • That would only be more or less 8,000 miles in three years!
  • Though they are slow swimmers, they travel very long distances.
  • They migrate over thousands of miles to head to a different feeding location.
  • Adult whale sharks are known to dive up to 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) deep in the ocean.
  • However, they are typically found on the surface where they feed on plankton and small fish.
  • Whale sharks have also been observed gathering in large numbers at an exact time in a specific location, but little is known about how or why they do so.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT

GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION

  • Whale sharks are ovoviviparous creatures, meaning the eggs the females produce are developed and hatched while inside their bodies, just like in snakes.
  • Their young is already 16 to 24 inches long by the time they give birth to them.
  • Whale sharks reach sexual maturity around 30 years old.
  • Young whale sharks are left to fend for themselves after birth.
  • They are often preyed upon because they have not yet reached a larger size.
  • Great white sharks, tiger sharks, and orcas treat young whale sharks as an easy target.
  • Less than 10% are said to survive to adulthood.
  • Those that get to live have a long lifespan of 70 to 100 years.

WHALE SHARK TOURISM

  • “Gentle giants,” as they are known, whale sharks are popular to swim with for scuba divers.
  • According to the World Wildlife Fund – UK, there is a community around Mafia Island, Tanzania, profiting from whale shark tourism because whale sharks permanently inhabit the waters there.
  • The WWF works with those communities to conserve whale sharks.

THREATS

  • The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has declared the global whale shark population endangered.
  • The main threats to whale shark populations are fisheries, demand for their parts as a delicacy, bycatch losses, and climate change.

Whale Shark Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Whale Shark across 25 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Whale Shark. The largest fish species in the world’s oceans is whale sharks. On average, they can grow up to 12 meters long.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Whale Shark Facts
  2. Fish Fact ID
  3. Size It Up
  4. Parts in Parts
  5. Mark The Shark
  6. Best Behavior
  7. Fish Samples
  8. Conservation Slogans
  9. Other Sharks
  10. Around the World
  11. My Shark Story

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a whale shark?

A whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest species of shark and is known for being the largest fish in the world. It is a slow-moving, filter-feeding shark that belongs to the family Rhincodontidae. Despite its enormous size, the whale shark is known for its gentle and non-aggressive nature.

How large can whale sharks grow?

Whale sharks can grow to impressive sizes, with some individuals reaching lengths of up to 40 feet (12 meters) or more. The largest confirmed whale shark on record measured approximately 61.7 feet (18.8 meters) in length. They can also weigh several tons, with the heaviest individuals tipping the scales at around 15-20 tons.

What do whale sharks eat?

Whale sharks are filter feeders and primarily feed on tiny planktonic organisms such as krill, small fish, and microscopic organisms like copepods and phytoplankton. They swim with their mouths wide open, allowing water to pass through their gills, while a specialized filter system in their gill arches traps and retains the small prey. This feeding behavior is similar to that of baleen whales.

Where are whale sharks found?

Whale sharks have a widespread distribution and are typically found in warm, tropical and subtropical waters around the world. They are often spotted in areas with high concentrations of plankton, such as coastal areas, upwelling zones, and coral reefs. Popular locations for whale shark sightings include the Maldives, the Philippines, the Galápagos Islands, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Are whale sharks endangered?

Whale sharks are currently classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Their populations face threats from activities such as bycatch in fishing nets, ship strikes, habitat degradation, and the illegal trade in their fins and meat. Conservation efforts, including protected marine areas and international agreements, aim to protect these majestic creatures and their habitats. Many countries have also implemented regulations to safeguard whale sharks and promote responsible tourism around them.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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