Whale sharks were recently spotted near the sea off Panaiyur fishing village along the Chennai coast.
About
- The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and the largest fish known to have lived on this planet.
- Scientific Name: Rhincodon typus
- They feed on plankton and travel large distances to find enough food to sustain their huge size, and to reproduce.
- They are one of only three species of filter feeding sharks.
- Distribution: They can be found in all temperate and tropical oceans around the world, except the Mediterranean Sea.
Features
- It is a large fish that can grow up to 60 feet long, though most specimens reach about 40 feet in length and weigh about 15 tons.
- They are dark gray on top and light underneath, with a series of light spots or stripes covering the dark parts of their bodies. This helps to camouflage them as they swim.
- Unlike most shark species, its mouth is located at the front of the head (terminal) instead of the underside of the rostrum (subterminal).
- Filter Feeders:
- They are filter feeders and can neither bite nor chew. They can process more than 6,000 litres of water an hour through their gills.
- Inside the mouth are specialized flaps called velums. These stop the backflow of water as the whale shark closes its mouth, preventing the loss of food.
History
- Fishing and meat eating are the primary causes of whale shark extinction.
- Fishermen target whale sharks specifically because they make good prey.
- Their population size has decreased due to this poaching over the years.
- Fortunately, education is something that everyone can do to support the preservation of these gentle giants on this Day.
- We can contribute to their protection for future generations if we educate ourselves about whale sharks and their significance on this Day .
Significance
- Today is Whale Shark Day, a day to honour these incredible marine animals. Additionally, this day provides an opportunity to spread knowledge about the value of conservation.
- You may anticipate a few things on Whale Shark Day. The first is that there are more whales and sharks in the sea than usual.
- This is due to the fact that because they are typically elusive and shy, these creatures are easier to spot during this International Whale Shark Day occasion.
- These animals could exhibit some peculiar habits.
Read also:- Carbon Footprint of India’s Marine Fisheries
