Sol y Mar Magazine November-December 2011 ENGLISH

Whale shark: a myth, an industry

By Maria Bello The largest living fish is the Rhincodon typus, commonly known as “Whale Shark�. It is not a whale, but a shark and has been present in the ocean for the last sixty millions years. His impressive length, 12-15 m on average been able to reach till 20m, does not become it on the most dangerous marine creature and does not pose significant danger to humans. With a distinguished coloration pattern resembling a checkerboard of pale yellow spots and stripes that are unique to each specimen, its slow movements not reaching more than 5 kilometers per hour and its behavior has rendered it an expensive marine adventure for tourists. The whale shark can be found on tropical warm waters worldwide on the ocean. During the day it can be observed feeding near the surface, migrating to deeper waters at night. Typically seen offshore, it has also been found closer to coastal zones, entering lagoons or coral reefs areas. Reported as a sol-