Florent's Guide To The

French Polynesian Reefs

Whale Shark
Rhincodon typus
Whale Shark
Category: Whale Sharks
Scientific Name: Rhincodon typus
Size: Up to 50 ft. (15 m)  
Depth: 0-500 ft. (0-152 m)
Distribution: Circumtropical
Chordata (Phylum) Chordates
└Vertebrata (Subphylum) Vertebrates
 └Chondrichthyes (Parvphylum) Cartilaginous Fishes
  └Elasmobranchii (Class) Sharks and Rays
   └Selachii (Infraclass) Sharks
    └Orectolobiformes (Order) Carpet sharks
     └Rhincodontidae (Family) Whale Sharks
      └Rhincodon (Genus)
       └R. typus (Species)
WoRMS ID: 105847🔗
iNaturalist ID: 52188🔗

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© 2026 Florent Charpin