Whale shark viewing at the Georgia Aquarium
Whale shark viewing at the Georgia Aquarium
The whale shark is the largest known extant fish species, swimming slowly and filter-feeding. The longest confirmed individual measured 18.8 meters (61.7 feet) in length. The whale shark is by far the largest living non-cetacean animal and holds numerous records for size in the animal kingdom. It is the only living member of the family Rhincodontidae, which is a subclass of the class Chondrichthyes’ Elasmobranchii, and the only member of the genus Rhincodon. Prior to 1984, it was categorized within the Rhinodontidae family as Rhiniodon.
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