Ecology Summary - Rhincodon typus

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Main Ref.	Colman, J.G., 1997
Remarks	Found on the continental shelf (Ref. 75154); Dives to depths well into the mesopelagic and bathypelagic zones (1,286 maximum depth) (Ref. 80381). Prefers surface water temperatures between 21-25°C and salinities of 34-35 ppt. Relies on a versatile suction filter-feeding method, which enables it to draw water into the mouth at higher velocities, thereby allowing it to capture larger, more active nektonic prey as well as zooplankton aggregations. Has been observed to feed passively by cruising with mouth agape. It feeds actively at dusk or after dark by opening their mouths and sucking in prey-rich water (Ref. 26319). A carnivore (Ref. 9137). Planktivorous (Ref. 129713).

Main Ref.

Colman, J.G., 1997

Remarks

Found on the continental shelf (Ref. 75154); Dives to depths well into the mesopelagic and bathypelagic zones (1,286 maximum depth) (Ref. 80381). Prefers surface water temperatures between 21-25°C and salinities of 34-35 ppt. Relies on a versatile suction filter-feeding method, which enables it to draw water into the mouth at higher velocities, thereby allowing it to capture larger, more active nektonic prey as well as zooplankton aggregations. Has been observed to feed passively by cruising with mouth agape. It feeds actively at dusk or after dark by opening their mouths and sucking in prey-rich water (Ref. 26319). A carnivore (Ref. 9137). Planktivorous (Ref. 129713).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

	Marine - Neritic	Marine - Oceanic	Brackishwater	Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies	supra-littoral zone littoral zone sublittoral zone	epipelagic mesopelagic epipelagic abyssopelagic hadopelagic	estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas mangroves marshes/swamps	rivers/streams lakes/ponds caves exclusively in caves

Highighted items on the list are where Rhincodon typus may be found.

Habitat

Substrate
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats	Coral Reefs;
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref.
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

Feeding

Feeding type	mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type Ref.	Colman, J.G., 1997
Feeding habit	filtering plankton
Feeding habit Ref.	Colman, J.G., 1997

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method	Original sample		Unfished population		Remark
Estimation method	Troph	s.e.	Troph	s.e.	Remark
From diet composition	3.55	0.54	3.52	0.46	Troph of juv./adults from 1 study.
From individual food items	3.76	0.55			Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref.	Cortés, E., 1999

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