2013 Photo Contest, Nature, 3rd prize

Whale Sharks

Photographer

Thomas P. Peschak

03 January, 2009

Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are slow-moving, filter-feeding sharks found in tropical and warm oceans, and are the largest non-mammalian vertebrates on the planet.

About the photographer

Thomas P. Peschak

Thomas P. Peschak is a National Geographic Photographer and National Geographic Explorer who specializes in documenting both the beauty and fragility of the world's oceans, i...

Background story

Gulf of Tadjoura, Djibouti

A whale shark swims in the light cast by a fishing boat at night. Plankton and small sardines are attracted by the light, which in turn draws whale sharks.

Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are slow-moving, filter-feeding sharks found in tropical and warm oceans, and are the largest non-mammalian vertebrates on the planet. The species originated some 60 million years ago, and individuals normally have a lifespan of around 70 years.

Currently, however, whale sharks are listed as a vulnerable species. They come under particular threat from pollution and strikes by boat propellers, and are also hunted for their fins and flesh.

The sharks feed by drifting with their capacious mouths open, drawing in plankton, fish, and small crustaceans. Foreign objects, such as plastic, can also be drawn into the shark’s digestive system, causing harm.

Technical information

Shutter Speed
1/500 sec
Focal length
16 mm
F-Stop
5
ISO
800
Camera
Nikon D3

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