Birth has been a mystery, it was not known if they gave birth to live young or they laid eggs, the mystery was finally solved in 1995 when experts in Taiwan examined a 35ft pregnant female that had been harpooned by Taiwanese fisherman and found her twin uteruses contained 300 embryos, proof that the embryos emerge from egg cases whilst still in the mothers body, this process is called ovoviporous. Of the 300 embryos 15 were alive fully developed and ready to be born, they ranged in size from 16 to 25 inches.Sexual Maturity, again no one is really sure, it is believed that Whale Sharks become sexually mature between the ages of 20 to 30 years old.Longevity again we do not know it has been estimated that they can live between 80 and 150 years old.Are you beginning to see why research is needed, so much is unknown?

Areas that they are seen; they inhabit tropical, temperate seas across the world and seem to prefer warmer waters ranging in temperature from 21C to 28C (70F to 82F).

Predators of the Whale Shark, of course man is the biggest, its fins and flesh are highly prized in certain eastern countries. Natural Predators, juvenile Whale Sharks have been found in the stomachs of Blue Marlin and Blue Sharks.Feeding, the Whale Shark is a filter feeder and it strains hundreds of gallons of water through it gills collecting plankton. Its gills have very fine rakers, which actually strain the plankton.