Biology
The whale shark is well adapted to its environment. Its monumental size is its greatest protection and adults have little to fear from natural predators except for humans. It has a very efficient feeding mechanism and its somewhat opportunistic diet provides a broad base of food supply. The size of an adult whale shark’s eye is about that of a golf ball, small for such a large animal. It has no eyelid or protective membrane. If the shark perceives the possibility of injury to an eye, the eyeball is rotated backward into the eye cavity and is covered by a flap of skin that slides forward over the opening. The whale shark, along with other shark species, has a sixth sense provided by the presence of specialized nerve cells, located primarily in the head region, called the Ampullae of Lorenzini. These cells are sensitive to and can detect electromagnetic fields transmitted by other animals. These cells assist the shark in finding food at close range, even in poor visibility conditions. |
Importance
Economic :This species is at risk in its natural environment and has previously been the subject of intensive fishing practices. Despite being the focus of several fishing operations, whale sharks are becoming increasingly appreciated for their conservation value. They have been on the World Conservation Union’s Red List of Threatened Species since 1990 and are currently classified as ‘vulnerable to extinction’. Ecological: Whale sharks are related to important ecological processes such as crab, fish and coral spawning. As possible indicators of plankton-rich patches, whale sharks may be using baitfish to locate their prey. |
Facts
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Vocabulary
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