A specimen of a whale shark was sighted in the waters of Cozumel, which surprised fishermen in the region. Images of the species were shared on social media, according to the fishermen of the Island of the Swallows. This is an unusual occurrence, as this event hasn’t been recorded for the past 10 years.
Usually, the journey of the world’s largest fish is observed between Isla Mujeres, Contoy, and Holbox.
A bit more about this species
The whale shark, the largest fish in the sea, measuring up to 12 meters or more, has quite the menu to choose from. Fortunately for most marine creatures (and us!), its favorite food is plankton. It captures these tiny plants and animals, along with any small fish that happen to pass by, with its colossal mouth wide open while swimming near the water’s surface.
The whale shark, like the second largest fish on the planet, the basking shark, is a filter feeder. To eat, it opens its enormous jaws wide and sucks in everything that’s nearby. Then it closes its mouth, expelling and filtering the water through its gills. Anything that remains inside is ingested by this giant shark.
Preferring warm waters, whale sharks are present in all tropical seas. They are known to migrate each spring to the continental shelf off the central west coast of Australia. The coral spawning at Ningaloo Reef, located in that area, provides abundant plankton for the whale sharks.
Despite its enormous size, the whale shark is a gentle fish that sometimes allows divers to swim alongside them. It is currently listed as a vulnerable species. Nevertheless, they are still hunted in some parts of Asia, such as Taiwan and the Philippines.
TYT Newsroom