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Rhincodontidae - whale sharks

whale sharkThere is one species in this family of sharks. The whale shark is the largest living fish! It can be over 40 feet in length! It has a broad, flattened head with a rounded snout. Its large mouth is found at the tip of its snout. It has five large gill slits; a large front dorsal fin; a smaller back dorsal fin; and large, wing-like pectoral fins. It has yellow stripes and spots on its dark grayish brown body. The whale shark is found around the world in warm open ocean waters with surface temperatures of 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit. Whale sharks eat plankton, small fish, crabs and other small crustaceans.

Endangered in NH Endangered in NH

Threatened in NH Threatened in NH

introduced Introduced

Endangered in the US Endangered in US

Threatened in the US Threatened in US

 


  New Hampshire Species    North/Central American Species
   

Whale Shark