Marine scientists are sounding the alarm about the world’s largest shark species, which is at risk of decreasing in size.
Currently, the whale shark is classified as “vulnerable.” Dr. Mark Meekan from the Australian Institute of Marine Science states: “The most significant thing we have observed is that in just the past decade, the average size of whale sharks has decreased from 7 meters to just 5 meters.”
The scientific name for the whale shark is Rhincodon typus. They feed similarly to baleen whales, filtering small organisms through their comb-like teeth. These sharks can live up to 150 years and grow to lengths of 18 to 20 meters. The age at which whale sharks reach maturity to reproduce is about 30 years.
NGUYEN SINH
