Whale shark  (Rhincodon typus)

Range

Found throughout the world's oceans in temperate and tropical waters, most commonly in a global band around the equator between 30° to 40° latitude (2).

View a distribution map for this species at UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Habitat

The whale shark inhabits shallow coastal areas as well as the open ocean. This species prefers warm water, with surface temperature between 21° to 30° centigrade (5), but can tolerate water temperatures experienced on deep dives (over 1,000 metres) as low as 3° centigrade (7).

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