Is a whale shark a whale or a shark?
Quick Answer
A whale shark is a shark, not a whale. Despite its enormous size and whale-like name, the whale shark is a fish belonging to the class Chondrichthyes. It breathes through gills, is cold-blooded, and has a cartilaginous skeleton.
Key Facts
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🔍 3,600/moWhale Sharks Are Sharks, Not Whales
The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is definitively a shark — a type of fish — not a whale. The “whale” in its name refers solely to its enormous size, which rivals that of some whale species. Understanding the difference requires comparing the fundamental biology of sharks and whales.
Shark vs. Whale: Key Differences
| Feature | Whale Shark (Shark) | Whales |
|---|---|---|
| Classification | Fish (Chondrichthyes) | Mammal (Mammalia) |
| Breathing | Gills (extracts oxygen from water) | Lungs (breathes air) |
| Body temperature | Cold-blooded | Warm-blooded |
| Skeleton | Cartilage | Bone |
| Reproduction | Lays eggs (ovoviviparous) | Live birth, nurses with milk |
| Tail movement | Side to side | Up and down |
| Hair | None | Some (all cetaceans have hair) |
Why It’s Called a “Whale Shark”
The name “whale shark” was given because of the animal’s extraordinary size. Whale sharks can grow to over 40 feet long, making them the largest fish in the ocean. Their size approaches that of smaller whale species, leading to the descriptive name. The naming convention is similar to how “whale” appears in the names of other large marine creatures.
Similarities to Whales
Despite being a shark, the whale shark does share some superficial similarities with baleen whales:
- Filter feeding: Like baleen whales, whale sharks are filter feeders that consume plankton, krill, and small fish
- Enormous size: Both are among the largest animals in the ocean
- Gentle nature: Both whale sharks and most baleen whales are harmless to humans
- Wide-ranging migration: Both travel long distances across ocean basins
How Whale Sharks Differ From Other Sharks
Whale sharks are also unusual among sharks:
- Most sharks are active predators; whale sharks are passive filter feeders
- Whale sharks have very small teeth (over 300 rows) that play no role in feeding
- They are docile and allow humans to swim alongside them
- They grow far larger than any other shark species — a great white shark at 20 feet is only half the length of an average whale shark
The whale shark is the sole member of the family Rhincodontidae and is listed as Endangered by the IUCN. For more on blue whales and other true whales, see how big is a blue whale.
People Also Ask
what do whale sharks eat?
Whale sharks are filter feeders that eat plankton, fish eggs, krill, small fish, and squid. Despite being the largest fish in the ocean, they feed exclusively on tiny organisms.
how big is a whale shark?
The whale shark is the largest known fish species, typically reaching lengths between 18 and 32.8 feet (5.5 to 10 meters). The largest confirmed individual measured 61.7 feet (18.8 meters) in length, and they can weigh as much as 41,000 pounds (approx. 19 metric tonnes).
are whale sharks dangerous?
Whale sharks are not dangerous to humans. They are docile filter feeders that eat plankton and small fish, not large prey. Despite their massive size, they are known as gentle giants and frequently allow swimmers and divers to approach them without showing aggression.
Is A Whale Shark A Shark??
Whale sharks are the largest fish species in the world, reaching up to 60 feet (18 meters) in length. Despite having 'whale' in their name, they are fish, not mammals.'whale shark' refers only to their whale-like size.
Test Your Knowledge: Whale Shark
They have cartilaginous skeletons like all sharks