 There is one species in this family of sharks. The whale shark is the largest living fish! It can be over 40 feet in length! It has a broad, flattened head with a rounded snout. Its large mouth is found at the tip of its snout. It has five large gill slits; a large front dorsal fin; a smaller back dorsal fin; and large, wing-like pectoral fins. It has yellow stripes and spots on its dark grayish brown body. The whale shark is found around the world in warm open ocean waters with surface temperatures of 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit. Whale sharks eat plankton, small fish, crabs and other small crustaceans.
 Endangered in NH |
 Threatened in NH |
 Introduced |
 Endangered in US |
 Threatened in US |
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| New Hampshire Species |
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North/Central American Species |
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Whale Shark
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There is one species in this family of sharks. The whale shark is the largest living fish! It can be over 40 feet in length! It has a broad, flattened head with a rounded snout. Its large mouth is found at the tip of its snout. It has five large gill slits; a large front dorsal fin; a smaller back dorsal fin; and large, wing-like pectoral fins. It has yellow stripes and spots on its dark grayish brown body. The whale shark is found around the world in warm open ocean waters with surface temperatures of 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit. Whale sharks eat plankton, small fish, crabs and other small crustaceans.