The whale shark is the largest living fish. Despite its huge size it is not a dangerous species, and it feeds mainly on plankton. In the Maldives it is rare and protected.
At a glance
Dhivehi name: Fehurihi
Scientific name: Rhincodon typus
Family: Rhincodontidae (whale sharks)
Size: Rare above 12 m, possibly up to 21 m
Found: Open water, often near the surface
How to recognise it
With its huge size and distinctive spotting, the whale shark cannot be confused with any other fish. It is dark above, marked with many narrow whitish bars and rows of spots, and pale below. The head is very broad, and the very wide mouth sits almost at the front of the head, with numerous tiny teeth.
Habitat and behaviour
This is a pelagic filter feeder, which means it lives in open water and strains food from the sea. It is found singly or in small schools, often close to the surface. It feeds mainly on plankton, and sometimes on small pelagic crustaceans or small schooling fish. It occurs in tropical seas around the world.
Where to see it
Whale sharks cruise in open water, often close to the surface, so snorkellers and divers can meet them on boat excursions. South Ari Atoll Marine Protected Area, declared by the Maldives government in 2009 and running from Rangali to Dhigurah, is one of the few places where they are seen all year. Keep a respectful distance and never touch the animal.
Did you know?
Divers sometimes see whale sharks, normally during the southwest monsoon off the east coast and during the northeast monsoon off the west coast. Fisheries staff have also seen them occasionally. Because the whale shark is rare and endangered, it is a protected species in the Maldives.
Source: Fishes of the Maldives, Marine Research Centre (2003).