Is a whale shark a whale or a shark?

The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is a slow-moving, filter-feeding carpet shark and the largest known extant fish species. The largest confirmed individual had a length of 12. 65 m (41. 5 ft) and a weight of about 21. 5 t (47,000 lb). read more

Although both animals live and thrive in the ocean and there is a species of shark that is called the whale shark the whale species is very different from sharks. In fact sharks are actually considered a type of fish while whales, dolphins and porpoises are marine mammals. read more

The whale shark is a giant of the oceans: the dimensions of its body gives it the title of the largest fish in the world and therefore, also the biggest shark. It is the only member of the genus Rhincodon. It belongs to the order Orectolobiformes and the family Rhincodontidae. read more

The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is a slow-moving, filter-feeding carpet shark and the largest known extant fish species. The largest confirmed individual had a length of 12.65 m (41.5 ft) and a weight of about 21.5 t (47,000 lb). read more