Family RHINCODONTIDAE

Rhincodontidae

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Introduction

The family Rhincodontidae contains a single living species, the Whale Shark. It is found throughout the tropical oceans of the world, generally near the surface.

Rhincodontids are viviparous, giving birth to live young; one shark was found with 300 embryos (Joung et al. 1996). They are suction filter feeders, and feed on a variety of fishes and invertebrates; they sometimes prey on larger fishes, such as small tunas. Whale sharks reach a size of 12.1 m, but earlier records suggest that the species may reach a larger size, possibly to 21 m, making it the largest fish in the world (Compagno et al. 2005).

Compagno (1984, 2001) recently reviewed current knowledge of the whale shark and Last & Sevens (1994, 2009) treated Australian records. The shark was first described under the name Rhiniodon and later under the name Rhincodon. The name Rhineodon has also been used. The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature has ruled in favour of Rhincodon and suppressed the earlier name Rhiniodon.

General References

Compagno, L.J.V. 1984. FAO Species Catalogue. Sharks of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 125. Rome : FAO Vol. 4(1) pp. 1-249.

Compagno, L.J.V. 2001. Sharks of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Bullhead, mackerel and carpet sharks (Heterodontiformes, Lamniformes and Orectolobiformes). Rome : FAO, FAO Species Catalogue for Fisheries Purposes No. 1 Vol. 2 269 pp.

Compagno, L.J.V., Dando, M. & Fowler, S. 2005. A Field Guide to the Sharks of the World. London : Collins 368 pp.

Joung, S.J., Chen, C.T., Clark, E., Uchida, S. & Huang, Y.P. 1996. The whale shark, Rhincodon typus, is a livebearer: 300 embryos found in one “megamamma' supreme. Environmental Biology of Fishes 46: 219-223

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Canberra : CSIRO Australia 513 pp. 84 pls.

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing Australia 2, 550 pp. [154]

Common Name References

Compagno, L.J.V. 2001. Sharks of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Bullhead, mackerel and carpet sharks (Heterodontiformes, Lamniformes and Orectolobiformes). Rome : FAO, FAO Species Catalogue for Fisheries Purposes No. 1 Vol. 2 269 pp. [201] (FAO) (Whale Shark)

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