Whale Shark Identification Guide
How to recognize a whale shark, the world's largest fish.
Read the full Whale Shark encyclopedia entry →
The Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest fish alive, yet it is a gentle filter feeder. Its size and pattern make it easy to identify.
Key identification features
- Enormous size — commonly 5-10 m, far larger than any other shark.
- A broad, flattened head with a very wide, terminal mouth at the front of the snout (not underneath, as in most sharks).
- A checkerboard pattern of pale spots and stripes on a dark grey-blue back — unique to each individual.
- Prominent ridges running along the sides of the body.
What it isn't
- Basking Shark: also huge and a filter feeder, but plain grey-brown with a pointed snout, huge gill slits nearly encircling the head, and no spot pattern.
Where you'll see one
Whale Sharks cruise warm open and coastal seas worldwide, often near plankton blooms. The immense size, front-facing wide mouth, and pale spotted 'checkerboard' pattern are unmistakable.
Frequently asked questions
Is the whale shark a whale or a shark?
It is a shark — the largest fish in the world — not a mammal, and it feeds by filtering plankton.
How do I tell a whale shark from a basking shark?
Whale sharks have a checkerboard of pale spots and a wide, front-facing mouth, while basking sharks are plain grey with a pointed snout and huge encircling gill slits.