Whale sharks are the largest fish species in the world and can travel almost 21,000 km in a few months. Now, these beautiful creatures surprise us again, researchers, using new measurements, have revealed that this sharks can living up to 130 years and exceeding 18 meters in length. These results are published in Marine and Freshwater Research Journal.
Researchers used a non-invasive approach to investigate growth parameters of whale sharks frequenting the South Ari Atoll, in Maldives, by analysing data of wild whale shark over a 10-year period. The researchers were able to monitor 44 whale sharks because most of them returned to the same area every one or two years, and each of them was recognized for their unique patterns of spots.
Welcome home, shark fam! Our tagging research shows that California’s white sharks are landlords with long-term leases, cruising back and forth to their home waters for decades.
Check out what we’ve discovered in our Project White Shark update: Episode 2/2 — Shark Fin-gerprints
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