Whale shark

The whale shark is a slow-moving, filter-feeding carpet shark and the largest known extant fish species. The largest confirmed individual had a length of 18.8 m The whale shark holds many records for size in the animal kingdom, most notably being by far the largest living nonmammalian vertebrate.

he whale shark is a filter feeder – one of only three known filter-feeding shark species (along with the basking shark and the megamouth shark)

here's the answers to your questions

1.do whale sharks attack humans?

Despite its size, the whale shark does not pose any danger to humans. Whale sharks are docile fish and sometimes allow swimmers to catch a ride, although this practice is discouraged by shark scientists and conservationists because of the disturbance to the sharks.

2.is the whale sharks whale or sharks?

The whale shark (Rhinodon typus) earns the name “whale” solely because of its size. Just as the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is the largest living mammal*, the whale shark is the largest species of any fish, known to reach more than 40 feet in length.

3.are whale sharks rare?

The iconic whale shark, the largest fish in the sea, was reclassified as an endangered species earlier this month, due to recent declines in its population. ... No one knows how many whale sharks are left, but rough estimates put their numbers somewhere in the tens of thousands worldwide.