Whale Shark Fast Facts - Ocean Life Education

Whale sharks are truly amazing creatures. Check out our whale shark fast facts to learn some jaw-dropping facts about them…

The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest fish and shark in the world
The whale shark is found in warm open waters of the tropical oceans
The lifespan of the whale shark ranges from 70 to 100 years
The whale shark is also the largest non-cetacean animal in the world
The average length of an adult whale sharks is 9.7 meters and they weigh on average 9 tonnes
Whale sharks have over 300 rows of tiny teeth – not used for eating!
Whale sharks are solitary creatures
Whale sharks spend most of their time near the surface
The whale shark is a filter feeder, feeding mainly on plankton
Whale sharks can process over 6,000 litres (1,500 gallons) of water each hour

Further reading…