Page 83 - Mexico Diving From the Caribbean to Pacific Isles
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The Whale Sharks of Isla Contoy
Isla Contoy is known for the large accumulation fish’s size, being as large as some species of whale
of whale sharks in the summer months. Whale and also a filter feeder like baleen whales.
sharks are protected by Mexican law and it is
illegal to catch or kill these magnificent creatures. Whale sharks have a mouth that can be
The whale shark is a slow-moving filter feeding 1.5 m (4.9 feet) wide. Its mouth contains
shark and the largest known fish. The largest between 300 to 350 rows of tiny teeth and 10
confirmed individual had a length of 12.65 meters filter pads which it uses to filter feed. Whale sharks
and a weight of more than 21.5 metric tons. have five large pairs of gills. Its head is wide and
Unconfirmed reports of considerably larger whale flat with two small eyes at the front. Their skin is
sharks exist. Whale sharks can grow to the size of a marked with pale yellow spots and stripes which
bus. The whale shark holds many records for sheer are unique to each individual. The whale shark
size in the animal kingdom, most notably being by has three prominent ridges along its sides. Whale
far the largest living non-mammalian vertebrate, sharks have a mouth that can be 1.5 m (4.9 feet)
rivalling many of the largest dinosaurs in weight. wide. Its mouth contains between 300 to 350
The species originated about 60 million years ago. rows of tiny teeth and 10 filter pads which it uses
to filter feed. Whale sharks have five large pairs
The whale shark is found in tropical and warm of gills. Its head is wide and flat with two small
oceans and lives in the open sea, with a eyes at the front. Their skin is marked with pale
lifespan of about 70 years. Whale sharks have yellow spots and stripes which are unique to each
very large mouths, and as filter feeders, they feed individual. The whale shark has three prominent
mainly on plankton. Whale shark time their arrival ridges along its sides. The whale shark is a filter
to coincide with the mass spawning of fish shoals feeder – one of only three known filter feeding
and feeding on the resultant clouds of eggs and shark species (along with the basking shark and
sperm. The name “whale shark” comes from the the megamouth shark.
