Here are the fun facts about whale sharks:
Fact #1: Whale sharks are the largest fish on the planet.
Fact #2: Whale sharks are in no way related to whales. Although they are sharks, they are very docile and pose no real threats to humans.
Fact #3: Whale sharks can reach up to 14m (46 feet!) in length.
Fact #4: Whale sharks can weigh up to 12 tons. That’s 24,000 pounds or nearly 11,000 kilos!! Fact #5: Whale sharks are filter feeders and sieve plankton through their gills for much of their nourishment. They also sieve squid, krill, and small fish.
Fact #6: Whale sharks have about 3,000 tiny teeth (less than 6mm long) but they don’t use those teeth to eat.
Fact #7: Whale sharks aren’t the fastest swimmers, reaching speeds no higher than 5 kmph. They swim by moving their bodies from side to side, unlike other sharks like the great white, who just use their tails to swim.
scubarius 