Georgia Aquarium Whale Shark Swim Along

In this video, Georgia Aquarium scientists swim alongside an adult male whale shark in Mexico and observe "vertical feeding," one of three feeding behaviors that whale sharks use to filter their microscopic plankton food from the sea. The animal hangs almost motionless, facing up at an angle and actively pumping into the mouth thousands of gallons of water and the food it contains, in this case fish eggs that are too small and transparent to be seen. Twenty black filter pads on the floor and roof of the mouth then separate the food, which is swallowed, from the water, which passes out through the gills. Whale sharks use the vertical feeding style when food is especially abundant, as it is in the waters of Quintana Roo at this time of year.

Georgia Aquarium has been carrying out research on whale sharks in Mexico since 2004 as part of our partnership in Project Domino, with the goal of determining how many whale sharks there are in this region, where they come from, where they go, and what they are doing in the waters of the Yucatan. This information can be used to make a difference for wild animals in wild places, as in 2009 when data we helped to collect was used by the Mexican Government to establish the Whale Shark Biosphere Reserve, a protected sanctuary for whale sharks off the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Atlanta
• Georgia
• Aquarium
• water
• ocean
• Gulf
• of
• Mexico
• whale
• sharks
• wildlife
• sports
• swimming
• eco
• tour
• science
• biology
• marine
• research
• conservation
• domino
• satellite
• tagging

[screwthis900]

i would kill to swim with one

[warhawk9566]

i know whale sharks dont attack people but i would not feel comfortable in the water with one at all. something about it being four times my size maybe? and the fact that humans are awkward creatures in water

[Juicedrinkz]

Guys it's really cool how they have whale sharks in their aquarium but some of the whale sharks already died because of some weird disease! They are supposed to live up to a decade in the ocean but forcing them into captivity is not a good idea. Unless they find a cure, they should change the animal. Please help the whale sharks Georgia aquariums!

[candysmiles11]

hes so cute

[AngeLsLuv]

He's adorbale

[cathml]

At least THIS shark doesn't have gigantic teeth as do their predator cousins; Very awesome creature!

[MrThe4ofus]

I LOVE whale sharks! Wait I already said that

[Emazing6]

WOW!!!! I'm officially talking my parents into taking me to the georgia aquarium for my birthdayy!!!!!1

[MrThe4ofus]

I love whale sharks I want to swim with one

[arob006]

thanks gerogia aquarium