Whale Sharks

The whale shark is the largest species (fish) living in the oceans. They contain a fiusiform baody shape can can reach lengths up to 14m (46'). They have alternating columns of white spots and verticle white, thin lines. They have a long, think mouth, that runs the entire length of their flattened head. They have very small eyes that are located very far foward on the head. Each nostril has a small barbel and their gill slits are very long, extending up past their pectoral fins. They have small pelvic fins, two dorsal fins and a semicircular caudel fin. The whale shark is a filter feeder, swimming close to the surface. They mainly eat small crustacean plankton, small fish and even a few larger fish. The whale shark is whats called a live-bearer. Some pregnant females have been found contain several hundred young at lengths of about 2'. They are mainly found in tropical or subtropical regions along the coasts and sometimes eneter into lagoons or tropical islands. They are mostly seen near the surface, where they are very curious and gentle with divers.

Read More~>
~http://www.new-brunswick.net/new-brunswick/sharks/species/whale.html
~http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_shark