Vertical and horizontal lines of cream or white create a checkerboard appearance with round spots in the squares giving the impression of checkers on a board ready for play. Online Gift Shop Jaw-some Apparel. You can purchase a card at the, The Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) train runs commuter services between DC and Baltimore. Unfortunately, none of them are alive today, Norton and Ralph passed away in 2007. This is a great way to introduce people to the amazing diversity of shark species that exists in our oceans. Usually undertaken with smaller sharks. Length: 12 metres (40 feet) Whale shark. Some biologists suggest that in instances when food is too large for the shark to swallow, the teeth may be used to process the food into a smaller, more manageable size. How many aquariums in the US have whale sharks? Whale Shark Sell Price If you manage to catch a Whale Shark you can sell it at Nooks Cranny for 13,000 Bells. Whale shark at Georgia Aquarium, United States. Chimaera are closely related to sharks, skates and rays. Georgia Aquarium offers sleepovers for families, youth groups, schools, companies, and more. By clicking below, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms. (The Georgia Aquarium swim with whale sharks program includes all of the equipment; all you need to bring is your swimsuit and enthusiasm!) What is the biggest shark in captivity? It's no wonder they've gained a reputation for being some of the most impressive and formidable predators on the planet! Sharks have a range of adaptations that make them perfectly suited to their environment. And they allow large numbers of people to develop a positive connection with sharks and rays. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. The aquarium is a house of 4 whale sharks. Despite Whale sharks, there are many other species living happily in the Aquarium. Chimelong Ocean Kingdom ad Six whale sharks on display in China Since 2004, the Aquariums field research focused on the many whale sharks that visit the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico, the largest gathering of its kind in the world. They are native to the tropical Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, according to the aquarium. A male specimen accidentally netted off of Bombay in 1983 was measured at 12.2 m (40 ft) and reportedly weighed 11 metric tons (24,250 lb). These guys have their own individual rope that they . By far, the most serious threat to this species is from humans. As you sit staring at the massive glass viewing area, you can see four separate whale sharks in a single tank. None of them are alive today. They also offer a free live stream on their website. Why are whale sharks dying at Georgia Aquarium? There are a number of countries that permit the commercial taking of whale sharks and some fisheries target the species. This month we look at some lesser known sharks with unusual names! Juveniles are subject to predation by larger fishes and sharks. Did you encounter any technical issues? Trixie was one of the aquariums first whale sharks and has been a star in its 6.3 million gallon Ocean Voyager exhibit since 2006, according the statement. It is listed in CITES Appendix II. Length: 2.8 metres (9.2 feet) Nurse shark. Although its mouth is huge, its gullet is small and limits the size of prey that it can swallow. Its monumental size is its greatest protection and adults have little to fear from natural predators except for humans. Working with the Taiwanese government and local fisherman, Georgia Aquarium obtained the required permits and created the safest and most secure method for the acquisition and transport of the animals from Taiwan to Atlanta, GA. How big was Trixie the whale shark? To ensure the experience is a positive one for both you and the shark here are some simple steps to follow. Reasons to visit Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta The largest exhibit at Georgia Aquarium measures 284 feet long x 126 feet wide x 30 feet deep at the maximum depth. Aquarium veterinary staff and researchers continue to study the whale sharks in the Ocean Voyager exhibit, including their growth, behavior, health and genetics. In the same year, the aquarium received two more species of Whale sharks Taroko and Yushan. The leopard shark is a subtropical species that lives in water ranging in temperature from 15-20 o C (59-68 o F). Aquatic animal health 1 aquarium in the U.S. and the no. Alam MT, Petit Iii RA, Read TD, Dove ADM. Monterey Bay Aquarium Monterey, California. Special Notes. Three whale sharks left of six brought from Taiwan in 2006-2007. Because of their size adult whale sharks have little to fear from natural marine predators, although observers have reported seeing scars that might indicate a large shark such as the white or tiger or even a killer whale might have attempted a larger meal than it could handle. Issues are distributed every Thursday evening to roughly 50 locations on and off-campus. . Sturgeon at Beijing Aquarium, China. There is some evidence that the southeast waters off Taiwan and areas in the Philippines may be important birthing areas during the summer months. What Are Some Of The Largest Sea Creatures. For a fee, snorkelers and divers can get even closer to the fish, sharks, and rays by joining the aquarium's dive master in exploring the main tank. There are 3 main methods of reproduction: oviparity (egg-laying), ovoviviparity and vivparity (live birth). 168: 496-504, 2010. Check out our range of shark inspired gifts. Get Out Your Green & Gold! The Georgia Aquarium was designed with 6.3 million gallons of the water tank to keep one of the giant creatures of the ocean in captivity The Whale Shark. Gladden Spit in Belize is another of the best places to dive with whale sharks. (562) 590-3100. Basically, there are two main reasons great whites arent kept in captivity: it takes an insane amount of resources for the aquarium to pull; and most importantly the sharks die quickly outside of the oceans no matter what zookeepers do. . What kind of sharks are in the Baltimore aquarium? The skin of an adult whale shark can be as thick as 4 inches (10 cm) and has the consistency of strong rubber, which limits possible predators to killer whales, great white sharks, tiger sharks and humans. Environmental Biology of Fishes 98: 1953-1964, Clingham E., Brown J., Henry L., Beard A. and Dove A.D.M. St. Helena: Whale Shark Expedition Indonesia: First Successful Wild Whale Shark Health Assessments Performed Indonesia: Groundbreaking Whale Shark Research Galapagos: Waiting For Whale Sharks GALAPAGOS WHALE SHARK PROJECT, McKinney J.A., Hoffmayer E.R., Holmberg J., Graham R.T., Driggers W.B. In fact, they were the ones to discover that whale sharks can dive to depths of 1,300 meters. When cruising, it averages about 2.5 knots (2.9 mph). "We are heartbroken to share that our female whale shark, Alice, has passed away," the statement reads. These can often be the stars of an aquarium collection. The Oklahoma Aquarium is home to the worlds largest collection of bull sharks. Katsu Y, Kohno S, Narita H, Urushitani H, Yamane K, Hara A,Clauss TM, Walsh MT, Miyagawa S, Guillette Jr LJ, Iguchi T. Cloning and functional characterization of Chondricthyes, cloudy catshark (Scyliorhinus torazame)and whale shark (Rhincodon typus) estrogen receptors. If the answer is no then maybe they should think again. Our original designs feature the iconic blacktip reef shark, sandbar sharks and more. Blood cells and serum chemistry in the worlds largest fish: the whale shark (Rhincodon typus). These spotted giants can be found in tropical and temperate oceans all over the world, although they are considered to be endangered. Additionally, Churaumi Aquarium is at the forefront of whale shark breeding efforts, and its program is focused on that goal. The Georgia Aquarium says they decided to euthanize Alice the whale shark. The Georgia Aquarium whale sharks came from the coastal seas of Taiwan. The park features a large aquarium with walruses, polar bears, whale sharks and dolphins and an area where visitors can interact and touch some of the sea animals. In fact, the latest Waterfront Partnership of Baltimores Healthy Harbor Initiative report card gave it an F, partially due to the levels of fecal matter in the water. (2015) Habitat suitability and environmental factors affecting whale shark (Rhincodon typus) aggregations in the Mexican Caribbean. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, they maintain 11 million gallons of water and have exhibits and programs that guests can view up close. As is the case with other sharks, there is no parental care of the pups. PeerJ. and the United States. Registered Office The Shark Trust4 Creykes CourtThe MillfieldsPlymouthPL1 3JB, UK+44 (0)1752 672008Contact Us, 2020 Shark Trust (unless otherwise attributed). Tuna at Tokyo Sea Life Park, Japan. Also known as ghost sharks. Coloration and color patterns vary from one shark to another. Years later, it is the third largest in the world, and the largest in the United States. Source their animals (and their food) responsibly and sustainably. These creatures can grow to be approximately 40 feet longa huge animal to keep in captivity. Valencia's Aquarium (Acuario de Valencia) Asia. Discover the 5 Best Aquariums in Tennessee, The 12 Largest Aquariums in the United States, The 4 Best Aquariums in (and Near) Los Angeles, The Best Aquarium in Indiana (And Two Nearby). cowlads@thecowl.providence.edu, For letters to the editor please email: The 4 youngsters of the Aquarium Norton, Ralph, Trixie, and Alice are the foremost species of Whale sharks that thrived in the Georgia Aquarium. It can reach a maximum size of 3.9-4.9 feet, with an average size at maturity for males 2.6 feet and females 3.5 feet. This is one of many exciting shark and ray awareness activities the Aquarium has queued up for July."We hope . Its large mouth, which can be up to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) wide, extends the full width of the head. When alarmed, the whale shark has been observed accelerating to a body length per second for very short bursts, but they cannot sustain fast swimming for long. Georgia Aquarium is located in Atlanta The Aquarium was established in 2005 and is well-known for its determined architecture, spectacular galleries, and sleepovers. Males, identified by the presence of a pair of claspers near the pelvic fin, appear to become sexually mature when they reach a length of 8-9 m (26.2 to 29.5 ft), but the size of females at maturity is not known. Only five aquariums in the world have one of these animals. They tend to spend most of their daytime hours cruising at shallow depths, apparently feeding, sometimes right at the water surface. To make things worse, I listened as the speaker described how the whale sharks came to be at the aquarium. They're really big, and like some types of whales, they also filter their food out of the water, but they are definitely a shark. Dove, ADM. Foraging and ingestive behaviors of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) in response to chemical olfactory cues. They were then escorted from the airport to the aquarium. The size of an adult whale sharks eye is about that of a golf ball, small for such a large animal. Georgia Aquarium's Ocean Voyager exhibit is unfathomably largethe size of a football field, ranging from 20 to 30 feet deep and filled with 6.3 million gallons of saltwater. There is a year round population of whale sharks in the Maldives, the site of extensive research on these awesome sharks. (in press). Despite their enormous size, whale sharks live on a diet of tiny shrimp, krill, fish eggs, sardines, anchovies and other small prey. The aquarium houses 6.3 million gallons of water and houses 100,000 animals inside. There are still many unanswered questions about whale sharks, particularly about mating and reproduction. They belong to Russia, but the aquarium still feels responsible for them. Our Behind the Seas Tour offer a backstage look at our most popular exhibits. Consists of zooplankton, specifically sergestid shrimps and fish eggs as well as krill, jellies, copepods, coral spawn, etc. Length: 2.5 metres (8.2 feet) Blacktip shark. Can they deliver care throughout the animals life? ATLANTA Georgia Aquariums longest-tenured whale shark is dead after 15 years at the facility. The whale shark is a filter feeder and its modified gill rakers can remove food particles from sea water down to 1 mm (0.039 in) in diameter, but most of its food comes in larger dimensions. Their Pacific Ocean tank holds whale sharks that can be viewed by anyone nearby. Dove ADM, Leisen J, Zhou M, Byrne JJ, Lim-Hing K,Webb HD, Gelbaum L, Viant, MR, Kubanek J, Fernandez F. Biomarkers of whale shark health: A metabolomic approach. Yes. They can provide a valuable opportunity to study and learn more about marine animals. Additionally, only 510 percent of zoos, dolphinaria, and aquaria are involved in substantial conservation programs. The dark shaded fins are irregularly marked with round, light colored dots. Although they dont list the size of the display, its late enough to house a whale shark. Both love sharks! ATLANTA, GeorgiaTrixie the whale shark, who could have lived up to 130 years in the wild, died on November 27, 2020 after just 14 years at the Georgia Aquarium. Whale sharks are notorious for dying in captivity. Who is known as the father of Indian documentaries? Reported in about 124 countries. The answers to these questions may lie in deeper waters, far away from human observation. United States. Many have speculated that they died because of the lack of knowledge surrounding keeping these enormous animals in captivity. The whale shark has a huge mouth, which can reach up to 4 feet (1.2 m) across, located at the front of the head. The Kaiyukan Aquarium is a beautifully designed aquarium located near Osaka Bay, Japan. How Much Does The Train Cost In Baltimore? The largest accurately measured whale shark was 61.7 feet (18.8 m). The whale shark, along with other shark species, has a sixth sense provided by the presence of specialized nerve cells, located primarily in the head region, called the Ampullae of Lorenzini. Dead animals mainly come from SeaWorld rescues of sick or dying wild whales and dolphins that are stranded on beaches or picked up in the hope of nursing them back to health. Whale sharks may be the most interesting fish on the planet, not to mention the largest. When looking at the data, there are relatively few facilities actually putting in any real effort to make a difference in the world. Immerse Yourself with Whale Sharks, Manta Rays & More. It has a vestigial spiracle behind the eye, which is an evolutionary remnant of its common ancestry with bottom-dwelling (benthic) carpet sharks. Are there any planets in the Triangulum Galaxy? Have you ever visited Georgia Aquarium? I am lettin people become fascinated with the ocean planet through my writings. The Big Blue Whale sculpture is located at the west end of Crissy Field and will be free and open to the public October 13th, 2018 to January 13th, 2019. Belize. Water depth in the harbor varies considerably, and can range from under 10 feet to more than 40 feet deep, according to NOAA. Through their transport, there were many people around them the entire time to make sure they were safe and secure. Many have speculated that they died because of the lack of knowledge surrounding keeping these enormous animals in captivity. Is it really worth it? It incorporates a 98 meter (322 ft) underwater tunnel. How Big Are Whale Sharks at Georgia Aquarium Whale sharks grow to a length of 18 to 32 feet (5.5 9.8 m). Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Large whale sharks dont often make it long in captivity. Sharks have the same 5 senses as we do plus a couple more Taxonomy is a field of science that involves classifying and naming species. Surround Yourself with Whale Sharks, Rays & More Journey with Gentle Giants is the only opportunity in the world where you are guaranteed to swim with whale sharks, manta rays and more. Acquisition, husbandry and veterinary care of whale sharks in a public aquarium setting (Book Chapter). It holds 6.3 million gallons of water and is home to whale sharks, manta rays and more swimmers. Registered Charity No. It is suggested that newborn pups generally range in length from 55 to 64 cm (21.7 to 25.2 in). Dove, A.D.M. MSU Press: East Lansing Michigan. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Vendors selected to participate in the 2020 BFMB season must have applied by the application deadline of December 31, 2019 and have been, All of our exhibits are indoors, including our warm and cozy Rainforest, which is kept at above 70 degrees all year round. Dove ADM, Arnold J,Clauss TM. Are there sharks in the Baltimore Inner Harbor? The Georgia Aquarium is home to more than 100,000 sea animals, including several whale sharks. Georgia Aquarium is the only aquarium in North America home to whale sharks, the biggest fish in the ocean. The third member Trixie died in 2020 due to poor health and Alice died in 2021. Read our Privacy Policyto find out more. This is a list of aquaria (public aquariums). On weekends it operates from 6:00 AM and also ends. We'll only use the information you provide on this form to email you monthly updates and marketing. Your email address will not be published. Credit: Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme www.maldiveswhalesharkresearch.org, Credit: Courtesy of SeaWatch.org. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. The exhibit is 9 meters deep and holds 5,400 tons of water, making it the only home for a whale shark in the aquarium. The aquarium is the only establishment outside of Asia to house whale sharks, a decision which was initially met with controversy after two whale sharks . The sharks are kept in a gigantic 24 million liter (6.3 million gallon) tank in the Ocean Voyager exhibit. Additionally, the way they transport these animals is inhumane. This information is available so you can learn more about the largest fish in the world and its conservation needs. This is unusual because of the comparatively long transport time and complex logistics required to bring the sharks to the aquarium, ranging between 28 and 36 hours. There are 3 whale sharks in aquarium at the moment. A strikingly handsome fish, its colors and markings are impressive and express an individuality that makes possible repeated identification of individual animals. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0180495, Read T.D., Petit R.A, Joseph S.J., Alam M.T., Weil M.R., Ahmad M., Bhimani R, Vuong J.S., Haase C.P., Webb D.H., Tan M., Dove A.D.M. This filter-feeding shark may feed passively by simply opening its mouth while it is swimming. The Atlanta Georgia Aquariums official TikTok account has been the source of some amazing footage of beluga whales and educational content. The Georgia Aquarium whale sharks came from the coastal seas of Taiwan. The Aquarium team is heading out to the ballpark July 13 for the Wilmington Sharks vs. Florence Flamingos baseball matchup with the opening pitch at 7:05 p.m. This exhibit was specially designed to house whale sharks, the largest fish species in the world. Active surface suction feeding is the most common type of feeding method and is characterized by the shark swimming in a normal orientation while feeding. Mexico. An experienced content writer, photographer, and avid reader amazed by the sea world and its creatures. The largest of the sharks, it is well proportioned and beautifully streamlined even with its large, broad, flat head. The aquarium is built with an almost 6.3-million-gallon water tank for giant creatures such as whale sharks to live there without any obstacles. The largest female whale shark at Georgia Aquarium has died, the Atlanta attraction announced. It has a very efficient feeding mechanism and its somewhat opportunistic diet provides a broad base of food supply. Divers rest on the sea floor while sharks are fed in the centre. Located on the Chinese island of Hengqin (just a 15-minute drive from Macau), this aquarium boasts 12.87 million gallons of fresh and salt water. It contains 11 million gallons of water and is known as the largest aquarium in the western hemisphere. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Larger sharks and rays are also frequently exhibited. Two of the whale sharks, Ralph and Norton, passed away in 2007, two years after the aquariums opening. The largest aquarium in the U.S. has tens of thousands of animals swimming in over 10 million gallons of water. They showed the size of the box in the exhibit, and it was quite small. The body coloration is distinctive. (2017) Long-term assessment of whale shark population demography and connectivity using photo-identification in the Western Atlantic Ocean. Each whale shark has its own individual spot pattern; like human fingerprints, no two are exactly alike. The whale shark is listed by the IUCN Red List as vulnerable. Because of its size and cartilaginous skeleton, it does not fossilize well and in life it is very difficult to weigh accurately. There's something for everyone. Aquarist Natasha Peat, whose job is to feed the whale sharks daily, let us tag along for a feeding. St. Patty's is coming Dolphin Coast Presented by Margaritaville by Wyndham, Beginning Environmental Leadership Program, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0180495, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-017-3926-9, Alliance of Marine Mammals Parks & Aquariums (AMMPA), International Marine Animal Trainer's Association (IMATA). It was built in 2004 and runs a number of outreach educational programs and ocean research. The public display industry keeps many species of marine mammals captive in concrete tanks, especially whales and dolphins. Lets visit the Georgia Aquarium with us to meet the Whale sharks! Three whale sharks left of six brought from Taiwan in 2006-2007. There has been controversy surrounding the decision of the Georgia Aquarium to house whale sharks. A rare giant shark now sits in an ice block at the Smithsonian, allowing researchers to hopefully unravel clues about its evolution. 2022 Georgia Aquarium 225 Baker Street Northwest, Atlanta, GA. Georgia Aquarium is a nonprofit committed to inspiring awareness and preservation of our ocean and aquatic animals worldwide. Located in the Southeast Asian city-state of Singapore, the aquarium boasts marine wildlife from more than 800 species. The massive shark named Trixie died on Friday after "having difficulty navigating the. It is protected in Australia, the Maldives, the Philippines, and the United States. Length: 12.6 metres (41.5 feet) Megalodon! They have the name whale shark because they do have some similarities with whales. Other recent advances have included a detailed exploration of the chemistry of their blood using cutting-edge analytical techniques at Georgia Institute of Technology and an exciting collaboration withEmory Universityto study the DNA of whale sharks based on tissue samples collected from animals at the Aquarium, which has led to the first ever complete shark genome map. The aquarium's "centerpiece" is its largest tank, the Pacific Ocean. We believe good aquariums are a vital connection point between the millions of people that visit them and the challenges faced by wild marine animals. What's more, it . editor@thecowl.com, For advertising please email: Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Georgia Aquarium is home to four whale sharks and is the only aquarium in the United States where you can find these sharks. Why no aquarium in the world has a great white shark? It looked like a tight fit in comparison to the whale shark. "Our whale sharks eat four times a day. The meat of the whale shark is considered a delicacy in Taiwan. In 2016, the global whale shark population as a whole was downgraded from Vulnerable to Endangered on the IUCN Red List. We found from 2012 to 2017, three Beluga whales died at the aquarium, sparking protests back then. The largest tank in the facility was a whopping 6.3 million gallons as of December 2018. How many aquariums in the US have whale sharks? DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2014.01.064. Our online shop has the perfect gift for the shark-lover in your life. Making a connection with nature is a vital step towards conservation action. The worlds largest when it opened in November 2005, the Aquarium encompassed 550,000 square feet (5.1 ha; 13 acres) of covered space, and its exhibits held 8 million US gallons (30,000,000 L) of fresh and saltwater. We work with many aquariums around the world. It is also the third largest in the entire world. The Aquarium of the Pacifics mission is to instill a sense of wonder, respect, and stewardship for the Pacific Ocean, its inhabitants, and ecosystems. Marine Life Park Marine Life Park contains 12 million gallons of water, making it the second-largest aquarium in the world. Georgia Aquarium1: Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, Georgia With over 500 underwaters species, Georgia Aquarium is one of the best aquariums in America. Our view is that its inappropriate to attempt to keep plankton-eating or migratory species in captivity. Deliver the best possible care for all of their animals and participate in collaborative captive breeding programmes. Aquatic Biology. Also I just love sharks and rays :). The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and the largest fish known to have lived on this planet. With a space so large, its no wonder they can keep the worlds largest fish. The whale shark is enormous and reportedly capable of reaching a maximum length of about 18 metres (59 feet). Moreover, the Georgia Aquarium educates the visitors to conserve these species, so that they are capable of thriving and flourishing for the upcoming generations.The topic of our concern is how many species of whale sharks they have. 9. Published Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. How many beluga whales have died at GA aquarium? Aquarium officials estimate theyve spent $6.5 million for the creatures care since trawlers took them from the silvered waters of the Sea of Okhotsk. The Georgia Aquarium is a house of 4 species of Whale sharks named Norton, Ralph, Trixie, and Alice. Adopt a Great White Shark today and you'll be supporting vital Great White Shark research in the USA. I work in a wildlife and conservation park, I specialize in aquatic animals. Their movement has been attributed by some researchers to timing with plankton blooms and changes in water temperature. It's integral to wildlife conservation, providing the bedrock for our understanding of sharks. But they diverged from their shark relatives around 400 million years ago. Outside Asia, the aquarium is the first one to keep such a giant ocean creature in captivity. Like a vertically suspended dipole antenna, a monopole, Many Hindus believe that there are 14 lokas, or worlds, The Bucyrus RH400, owned by Caterpillar, is the world', Where is the Parker Solar Probe going? ATLANTA, Georgia--Trixie the whale shark, who could have lived up to 130 years in the wild, died on November 27, 2020 after just 14 years at the Georgia Aquarium. They help us to reach new supporters, to increase engagement with shark conservation and they help us raise funds to further our work. Few species are listed here: Other than that, some of the common shark species also reside in the aquarium, they are: The Georgia Aquarium is one of the largest known aquariums all over the globe, which provides house facilities to 120,000 different species. List of aquaria in the United States; Venezuela. At least two other aquariums have exhibited whale sharks in recent years, and one other intended to until stopped by protest. Our biggest sharks Zebra shark. The one thing everyone says you need to do when visiting Atlanta is go to the Georgia Aquarium. Georgia Aquarium has not escaped the criticism all aquariums face about animal captivity. Total Water Volume: 10 million gallons Largest Tank: . Unlike most shark species, its mouth is located at the front of the head (terminal) instead of the underside of the rostrum (subterminal). Known as a deity in a Vietnamese religion, the whale shark is called CA Cong, which translates to Sir Fish. One reason given for the unique checkerboard pigmentation of the whale shark is an adaptation for radiation shielding, an advantage in animals that spend a significant amount of time near the surface of the water where they are exposed to high levels of ultraviolet radiation. Aquarium in Singapore. A 16-foot great white shark got up close and personal with boaters off the coast of Cape May, N.J. 1 Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Japan Considered one of the biggest and best aquariums in the world, Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium houses 740 species including the gigantic whale shark. Not all sharks are alive today. When the embryos come to term, they are live born. Housed within is not just a single whale shark, but four. The whale shark is the biggest fish in the sea. If you cant encounter marine life first-hand, this can be a valuable experience. The spiracles are behind the eyes at a similar distance. Short barbels protrude from its nostrils. However, most of this is false information meant to gain public favor. During this special program, you will get to spend 30 minutes in the water, and you'll leave with a souvenir photo and a t-shirt. Having whale sharks in an aquarium setting is a fantastic research opportunity. The only litter size that has ever been documented was more than 300 pups.