Whale shark
Depth: 100 m · Sunlight Zone
The whale shark is the biggest fish in the world and can grow as long as a bus. Even so it is completely gentle and eats only tiny plankton that it sieves from the water. Every whale shark wears its own pattern of pale spots, like a fingerprint.
For scientists
The whale shark is a filter feeder: it draws in water and pushes it through sponge-like sieve plates on its gills, where plankton and small fish are caught. Its spot pattern is unique, so researchers can re-identify individuals over years. It migrates thousands of kilometers and dives over 1000 meters deep, probably searching for food.
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