BajaNomad

Whale Shark Photos - Coyote Bay - March 2011

Pompano - 4-5-2011 at 06:54 PM

A very good friend and Coyote Bay neighbor, Dr. Vince Flynn of San Diego..and also a Nomad, sent me this photos taken just a days ago in front of our houses in Coyote.

A beautiful creature ...to be approached as in these pictures, calmly and reverently.

These magnificent marine fish are annual visitors to our Bay about this time of year...and we welcome them back. Please do not disturb with coming to close with your boat engine. These one showed signs of being injured on it's dorsal.







The whale shark, Rhincodon typus, is a slow-moving filter feeding shark, the largest living fish species. The largest confirmed individual was 41.50 ft in length. The heaviest weighed more than 79,000 lb, but unconfirmed claims report considerably larger whale sharks.

The shark is found in tropical and warm oceans, lives in the open sea with a lifespan of about 70 years. The species originated about 60 million years ago.

Although whale sharks have very large mouths, they feed mainly, though not exclusively, on plankton, microscopic plants and animals, although the BBC program Planet Earth filmed a whale shark feeding on a school of small fish.

The species was distinguished in April 1828, following the harpooning of a 15.1 ft specimen in Table Bay, South Africa. Andrew Smith, a military doctor associated with British troops stationed in Cape Town described it the following year. He published a more detailed description in 1849.

The name "whale shark" comes from the fish's physiology; as large as a whale, it too is a filter feeder.


fishabductor - 4-5-2011 at 06:58 PM

very cool pict's. We have only seen one and it was all by chance. I just happened to stand up and look over the rail of the boat for no apparent reason and was rewarded with panic...until I saw the dots:lol:

It was far, far bigger than my 15' 6" bayrunner.

Pompano - 4-5-2011 at 07:10 PM

Cool sightings, are'nt they, fishabuctor?...this one would appear to be about 30-35 ft long.

fishabductor - 4-5-2011 at 07:15 PM

I wish we could of seen one in your photo location, which I know exactly where it is based on the background.

The one we saw was quick, as we were trolling when it happened, we tried to turn around but we couldn't find it again. I always bring a mask and fins after that.

marv sherrill - 4-6-2011 at 06:46 PM

Nice photos , although I have to diagree with the report on the largest weight- even the largest whales rarely exceed one ton per foot - and the largest whale shark is rarely 45 feet-50 feet. check some more resources, but I could be wrong!

Pompano - 4-7-2011 at 04:22 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by marv sherrill
Nice photos , although I have to diagree with the report on the largest weight- even the largest whales rarely exceed one ton per foot - and the largest whale shark is rarely 45 feet-50 feet. check some more resources, but I could be wrong!


marv....you could very well be right, too. I merely copied and pasted the info from Guiness Book of World Records and Wikepedia.

The photos, of course, are the main reason for this post, with a bit of reading/info on the whale shark.

David K - 4-7-2011 at 07:56 AM

Great!:o

captain4tuna - 4-7-2011 at 09:25 AM

Wow...Great pics....Thanks!

Vince - 4-7-2011 at 09:43 AM

Those photos were sent to me by Concha Diaz, of Coyote Bay. I saw one a few years ago in the same location, they certainly do get your attention!

Pompano - 4-7-2011 at 09:55 AM

Hola, Vince......and Gracias, Concha!.....part of the NOLS crew.

BajaBlanca - 4-7-2011 at 12:55 PM

wow....great shots ...sure wish I could seen one so close by. thanx for sharing.

AmoPescar - 4-7-2011 at 01:05 PM

VERY COOL photos!

They are really amazing creatures! Ive seen lots of amazing sea life on the SOC but have never seen one of those, I really would like to experience one up close someday!


Miguelamo :yes: :) ;) :yes: