Whale shark
Amazing fact
Whale sharks clear debris from their filters in a motion that looks like an underwater cough.
University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web
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An illustration based on the real animal.
A little discovery to share.
Whale sharks clear debris from their filters in a motion that looks like an underwater cough.
THE REAL WORLD
The real Whale shark
- Scientific name
- Rhincodon typus
- Japanese name
- ジンベエザメ
- Group
- Ocean animals
- Class
- Chondrichthyes
- Order
- Orectolobiformes
- Family
- Rhincodontidae
- Genus
- Rhincodon
Where the name “Whale shark” comes from
Its Japanese name is said to come from its pattern resembling a summer jinbei garment.
沖縄美ら海水族館It takes seawater into its large mouth and feeds on small animals such as zooplankton.
How the Whale shark lives
They spend most of the day near the surface and dive during dark hours. During coral spawning, they eat eggs drifting at the surface. They usually swim slowly.
University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web沖縄美ら海水族館Basic data
- Size
- 10–12 m
- Diet
- Zooplankton and other small prey
- Range
- Tropical to subtropical regions worldwide
Where the Whale shark has been recorded
Records: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY 4.0 records, retrieved 2026-11-07). Map: Natural EarthSee the records on GBIF
Watch wild animals from a distance. Do not touch or feed them, and take care of the places where they live.
Names around the world
- 日本語
- ジンベエザメ
- 简体中文
- 鲸鲨
- 繁體中文
- 鯨鯊
- 한국어
- 고래상어
- Español
- Tiburón ballena
- Français
- Requin Baleine
- Deutsch
- Walhai
- Português (Brasil)
- Tubarão-baleia
- Italiano
- Squalo balena
- العربية
- قرش حوتي
- Bahasa Indonesia
- Hiu paus
- Tiếng Việt
- Cá nhám voi
- Русский
- Китовая акула
- Türkçe
- Balina köpek balığı
- ไทย
- ปลาฉลามวาฬ
- বাংলা
- তিমি হাঙ্গর
- اردو
- وہیل شارک
Names come from Wikidata and iNaturalist records. Where a language has no recorded name, we use the scientific name.
Sources and how we check
- 沖縄美ら海水族館 — ジンベエザメChecked: 2026-11-03
- University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web — Rhincodon typusChecked: 2026-11-05
We check each fact against its source. The illustrations simplify how the real animal looks.
The classification (class, order, family, genus) follows Wikidata records, checked against GBIF. Classifications can change as research goes on.
The basic data are the values given in each source. They vary with how the animal is measured, whether it is male or female, and whether it lives in the wild or in captivity.
This page was translated from the original Japanese with the help of AI.
Report a mistakeWhen you meet the Whale shark, look for this
- Look for the light spots and stripes on its body.
Animals do different things from day to day, so you may not always see this.
University of Michigan Animal Diversity WebEXHIBIT INFORMATION
Places that keep or show the Whale shark
Zoos, aquariums and other places whose official websites say they keep or show this animal.
Chubu
- Notojima Aquarium個体の入れ替えで不在の時期あり(2026年1〜9月は不在、2026年9月に新しい個体で展示再開)
Kyushu and Okinawa
- Kagoshima City Aquarium大きくなった個体は海へ帰して入れ替えるため、不在の時期あり
- Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Displays can change with the animals’ health and the seasons. Check each facility’s official website before you go.
RELATIVES
Others in Orectolobiformes
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