# Where Do Whale Sharks Live?

> Whale sharks live in warm tropical and subtropical seas and gather at aggregation sites. Species IUCN Endangered. Not a whale.

- **Species:** Whale Shark (*Rhincodon typus*)
- **Conservation status:** Endangered
- **Diet:** Filter feeder (plankton, small fish)
- **Habitat:** Warm open and coastal oceans
- **Lifespan:** Estimated 70–100 years
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/whale-shark/where-do-whale-shark-live/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/whale-shark/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest fish in the world, a gentle filter-feeder that swims slowly through warm open and coastal oceans. It can reach around 12 m long, and sometimes up to 18 m, weighing as much as 19,000 kg, yet it feeds almost entirely on tiny plankton and small fish. Cruising at only about 5 km/h, it may live 70 to 100 years. The species is listed as Endangered.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a sighting hotline. This page is native range and habitat.

## The largest fish in the ocean

The whale shark is a true shark, not a whale, and the biggest fish alive today. Typical adults measure around 12 m, but the largest confirmed individuals approach 18 m and weigh up to roughly 19,000 kg. Its broad, flattened head and enormous mouth, which can stretch well over a metre wide, sit right at the front of the body. Each animal carries a unique pattern of pale spots and stripes on grey skin, allowing researchers to identify individuals like a fingerprint.

## Help protect the Whale Shark

Whale sharks were uplisted to Endangered in 2016 after an inferred ≥50% decline over three generations. WARN does not run whale-shark tourism sites.

[Donate to wildlife protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/donate/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/whale-shark/where-do-whale-shark-live/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.