[Article initialement publié en avril 2024]
With a size up to 20 meters long, the whale shark (Rhincodon Typus) is considered to be the longest current shark. If we can use the current term, it is because the megalodon was the same size during his lifetime, between 23 and 3.6 million years ago. You should know that females are larger than males.
If the size of the whale shark can impress, you should not be afraid, because this species is harmless for humans. Its diet is exclusively composed of plankts and crustaceans. Its longevity is estimated at 80 years but it is considered threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
This migrant species generally lives in the tropical and temperate seas hot except the Mediterranean Sea. During his trips, he is accompanied by tuna and mackerel. You should know that the female whale sharks perform shorter migrations than males.
You surely know, the back of sharks makes it possible to distinguish species. To recognize whale shark you should know that hers is gray-blue with points and white lines. Its head and huge mouth are also one of its particularities.
Deep Blue, the largest white shark never observed
The images of the one we nicknamed Deep Blue were broadcast for the first time in 2014, when the documentary Shark Week was released. The first person to have been able to admire it is Mauricio Hoyos Padilla, researcher and specialist in sharks, in 2013. He then followed white sharks chasing sea elephants. This female large white shark whose appearances are qualified as theatrical measures between 6 and 7 meters long.
Deep Blue goes to specific places at certain times of the year. This allows those who wish to admire it to estimate its location. The animal is expected to be 53 this year but its life expectancy is 70 years. What is the strangest at home is that she will grow up to her death. In 2021, this large white shark had been photographed eating a sperm whale near Hawaii.
With an unwavering passion for local news, Christopher leads our editorial team with integrity and dedication. With over 20 years’ experience, he is the backbone of Wouldsayso, ensuring that we stay true to our mission to inform.
