A whale shark is a gentle sea giant which has a constantly hungry stomach and a mouthful of teeth. Despite that the description may sound true yet it really has nothing to do with the truth. In actual fact, with regards to diet, the whale sharks are far different compared to the shark species.
The Whale Sharks are actually viewed as filter-feeders. They chiefly feed on plankton, krill, macro-algae, small nektonic vertebrates, small fishes and squids. A unique oral anatomy is possesed by the whale sharks which enables it to filter for food, gulp in the water and expulse water through its gills.
Know that the whale sharks do not have big sharp teeth as what other shark species have. The fact is that, the size of their teeth is relatively smaller considering the fact that their teeth provide no real use regarding feeding. This means that, whale sharks usually do not munch their food. What these whale sharks have being filter-feeders is a unique raking mechanism attached within their gills which serves as a filter of their food from the water they gulp in. Their characteristic as filter-feeders makes their diet odd, interesting yet logical.
Filter-feeding
In lieu of preying on fishes, a whale shark sucks in mouthfuls of water abundant with macro-algae, tiny fishes and plankton. And then, it closes its mouth to catch the water inside of the body, which happens to be funneled through the gill flaps, where water is removed. Almost all of the food particles are stuck against the dermal denticles lining the whale shark's pharynx and also gill plates. They use their fine sieve-like contraptions to sifter plankton. The diameter of these filters are only 2-3 millimeters, prevent anything besides water and also smaller food particles from getting out of.
Almost any organic material that is certainly stuck between the gill filters is ingested immediately after. At a human outlook, the notion of filter-feeding seems relatively difficult. You might find it not easy to understand employing your mouth like a sponge filter and swallowing the dirt that gathers up within the filter. Albeit whale sharks are somewhat well experienced in terms of filter-feeding, the problem involving it is simply not lost for them. These whale sharks are frequently reported to be coughing simply because they were not able to swallow all the food particles that are trapped in their gill filters. Eventually, the remaining particles there mount up and then block up the filters, making it not easy to eat without coughing and, most likely, choking.
These creatures are very active feeders. Not like various other species of sharks, or fishes for example, whale sharks seldom cease eating. Considering the fact that filter-feeding also doesn't call for them to aquire for food, whale sharks can just gulp in water regardless of whether they're resting in stationary position.
Various Other Filter-feeder Sharks
Amongst all other shark species, the megamouth shark as well as the basking shark are the filter-feeders. The basking shark doesn't filter-feed the way whale sharks do. In lieu of gulping along with expelling water by using their gills, basking sharks just "basks," as a result forcing the water to flow by using their gills. The food particles are then simply amassed plus swallowed.
Actually, whale sharks are completely different from what you initially believed them to be. They do not use their teeth as they are filter-feeders and they do not have mouthful of sharp teeth.
The Whale Sharks are actually viewed as filter-feeders. They chiefly feed on plankton, krill, macro-algae, small nektonic vertebrates, small fishes and squids. A unique oral anatomy is possesed by the whale sharks which enables it to filter for food, gulp in the water and expulse water through its gills.
Know that the whale sharks do not have big sharp teeth as what other shark species have. The fact is that, the size of their teeth is relatively smaller considering the fact that their teeth provide no real use regarding feeding. This means that, whale sharks usually do not munch their food. What these whale sharks have being filter-feeders is a unique raking mechanism attached within their gills which serves as a filter of their food from the water they gulp in. Their characteristic as filter-feeders makes their diet odd, interesting yet logical.
Filter-feeding
In lieu of preying on fishes, a whale shark sucks in mouthfuls of water abundant with macro-algae, tiny fishes and plankton. And then, it closes its mouth to catch the water inside of the body, which happens to be funneled through the gill flaps, where water is removed. Almost all of the food particles are stuck against the dermal denticles lining the whale shark's pharynx and also gill plates. They use their fine sieve-like contraptions to sifter plankton. The diameter of these filters are only 2-3 millimeters, prevent anything besides water and also smaller food particles from getting out of.
Almost any organic material that is certainly stuck between the gill filters is ingested immediately after. At a human outlook, the notion of filter-feeding seems relatively difficult. You might find it not easy to understand employing your mouth like a sponge filter and swallowing the dirt that gathers up within the filter. Albeit whale sharks are somewhat well experienced in terms of filter-feeding, the problem involving it is simply not lost for them. These whale sharks are frequently reported to be coughing simply because they were not able to swallow all the food particles that are trapped in their gill filters. Eventually, the remaining particles there mount up and then block up the filters, making it not easy to eat without coughing and, most likely, choking.
These creatures are very active feeders. Not like various other species of sharks, or fishes for example, whale sharks seldom cease eating. Considering the fact that filter-feeding also doesn't call for them to aquire for food, whale sharks can just gulp in water regardless of whether they're resting in stationary position.
Various Other Filter-feeder Sharks
Amongst all other shark species, the megamouth shark as well as the basking shark are the filter-feeders. The basking shark doesn't filter-feed the way whale sharks do. In lieu of gulping along with expelling water by using their gills, basking sharks just "basks," as a result forcing the water to flow by using their gills. The food particles are then simply amassed plus swallowed.
Actually, whale sharks are completely different from what you initially believed them to be. They do not use their teeth as they are filter-feeders and they do not have mouthful of sharp teeth.
About the Author:
See this video for an idea of the size of these creatures: Whale Shark Size. More info on Whale Sharks here: Diving with Whale Sharks from Cancun.
No comments:
Post a Comment