whale shark

noun

1. a tropical shark, Rhincodon typus, ranging in size from 30 to 60 feet (9 to 18 meters), having small teeth and a sievelike structure over its gills for catching plankton.

whale shark

noun

1. a large spotted whalelike shark, Rhincodon typus, of warm seas, that feeds on plankton and small animals: family Rhincodontidae

Word History and Origins

Origin of whale shark¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

The region is a biodiversity hotspot, home to over 500 fish species, 60 kinds of corals and one of the largest whale shark congregations on Earth.

From Science Daily

This includes groups of special sharks, such as endangered hammerhead sharks and whale sharks.

From NewsForKids.net

Chicken cried about missing Rishi’s family and the whale sharks at the Georgia Aquarium.

From Literature

Her short, humorous videos on everything from whale sharks to zombie worms have attracted up to 2.1 million views.

From Science Magazine

Difficulties abounded — but so did sherbet-colored sunsets, whale sharks and a renewed belief in the gods of serendipity and adventure.

From New York Times