You can sponsor this page

Rhincodon typus Smith, 1828

Whale shark
Add your observation in Fish Watcher
Native range | All suitable habitat | Point map | Year 2050
This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.
Rhincodon typus   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
Upload your photos and videos
 Pictures | Videos | Stamps, Coins Misc. | Google image
Image of Rhincodon typus (Whale shark)
Rhincodon typus
Picture by Wirtz, P.

Belize country information

Common names: [No common name]
Occurrence: native
Salinity: marine
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: | Ref:
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: protected | Ref: CITES, 2003
Uses: no uses
Comments: Declaration of Gladden Spit on the Belize Barrier Reef, the feeding ground for whale sharks in springs, as a marine reserve on May 18, 2000 under Decree No. 68 of 2000. Whale shark tour regulations have been drafted and tour guides have been trained in these regulations (Ref. 48696). Also Ref. 43278.
National Checklist: Belize Biodiversity Information System - Fish
Country Information: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/bh.html
National Fisheries Authority: http://www.caricom-fisheries.com/belize-fisheries
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Compagno, L.J.V., 1984
National Database: Belize Biodiversity Information System

Common names from other countries

Requin baleine, Tiburón ballena, Whaleshark, ... more

Classification / Names Nombres comunes | Sinónimos | Catalog of Fishes(Género, Especie) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Elasmobranquios (tiburones y rayas) (sharks and rays) > Orectolobiformes (Carpet sharks) > Rhincodontidae (Whale shark)
Etymology: Rhincodon: rhinc, presumably a typographical error for rhine (Gr.), rasp, but often mistranslated as rhynchos (Gr.), snout; odon, tooth, referring to small, slightly curved teeth, “placed in longitudinal rows, and altogether so disposed towards the anterior edges of jaws as to exhibit the resemblance of a rasp or file lying across each”. (See ETYFish);  typus: Serving as type species of the genus. (See ETYFish).

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecología

marino; oceanodromo (Ref. 51243); rango de profundidad 0 - 1928 m (Ref. 106604), usually 0 - 100 m (Ref. 89972).   Subtropical; 18°C - 30°C (Ref. 35465); 45°N - 48°S, 180°W - 180°E

Distribución Países | Áreas FAO | Ecosistemas | Ocurrencias, apariciones |
Fatal error: Uncaught mysqli_sql_exception: Table 'fbapp.scientificname' doesn't exist in /var/www/html/includes/speciessummary.lib.php:2366 Stack trace: #0 /var/www/html/includes/speciessummary.lib.php(2366): mysqli->query() #1 /var/www/html/country/CountrySpeciesSummary.php(1228): checkPointMApDisplay() #2 {main} thrown in /var/www/html/includes/speciessummary.lib.php on line 2366