whale shark
Largest living fish
A whale shark is the world's largest living fish, reaching lengths of forty feet or more.
Despite its name and size, it's a filter feeder that poses no threat to humans, straining plankton and small fish through its gaping mouth.
The name combines its whale-like size with its classification as a shark.
Seen or patterned
- speckledDotted with small marks
- dappledMarked with spots
- checkerboardAlternating square pattern
- stripesParallel linear markings
Extremely large in scale
Massive saltwater body
- coral-reefSubmarine calcium carbonate ecosystem
- pelagicOf the open sea
- tropicalOf hot, humid regions
- migratoryRegularly moving between regions
Indo-Pacific · Galapagos · Maldives · Philippines · Mexico · ecotourism · snorkeling · diving
Easily controlled or taught
- gentleSoft and kind
- harmlessCausing no injury
- peacefulFree from disturbance
- nonaggressiveNot inclined to fight
calm · curious · approachable · tolerant · slow-moving · patient · unthreatening · interactive
Drifting marine microlife
- krillSmall marine crustaceans
- gulpingSwallowing hastily, noisily
- sieveMesh filtering utensil
- suctionPulling via pressure difference
copepods · zooplankton · open-mouthed · straining · nutrient-rich · gaping
Aquatic respiratory organs
- finsSwimming appendages
- cartilaginousComposed of flexible connective tissue
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
- scalesPlates or weighing devices
spotted
Seen or patterned
- speckledDotted with small marks
- dappledMarked with spots
- checkerboardAlternating square pattern
colossal
Extremely large in scale
gigantic · behemoth · huge · giant · leviathan · megafauna · mammoth
ocean
Massive saltwater body
- coral-reefSubmarine calcium carbonate ecosystem
- pelagicOf the open sea
- tropicalOf hot, humid regions
migratory · Indo-Pacific · Galapagos · Maldives · Philippines · Mexico · ecotourism · snorkeling · diving · conservation
docile
Easily controlled or taught
nonaggressive · calm · curious · approachable · tolerant · slow-moving · patient · unthreatening · interactive
plankton
Drifting marine microlife
suction · copepods · zooplankton · open-mouthed · straining · nutrient-rich · gaping
gills
Aquatic respiratory organs
- finsSwimming appendages
- cartilaginousComposed of flexible connective tissue
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
- Indian OceanArabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Andaman Sea
- Cartilaginous Fishray, rays, skate, skates, stingray
- Island Naturecoconut palm, hibiscus, sea turtle, coral reef, atoll
- Oceania Wildlifekangaroo, koala, platypus, echidna, emu
- Giant Fishgiant grouper, giant oarfish, bluefin tuna, blue marlin, oarfish
- giant sharksmegalodon, great white
whale sharkguppy
Small ornamental aquarium fish
minnow · neon tetra · anchovy · sardine
whale sharkgreat white shark
Largest predatory fish
tiger shark · bull shark · mako shark · hammerhead shark · orca
whale sharkwhale
Huge sea mammal
blue whale · humpback whale · sperm whale · dolphin · porpoise
shark, whale, sharks, whales, whaling, sharked, sharkskin, whaler, whalers