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Whale sharks possess a broad, flattened head with a large mouth and two small eyes located at the front corners. [14] [15] Unlike many other sharks, whale shark mouths are located at the front of the head rather than on the underside of the head. [16] A 12.1 m (39.7 ft) whale shark was reported to have a mouth 1.55 m (5.1 ft) across. [17]
The study found that whale sharks are skilled divers, so orcas attack from below and keep the whale shark at the water's surface. Then, the orcas find a way to flip the whale shark so it's belly up.
Even though the basking shark is considered to be slow and very large, it can actually breach the water, i.e. jump fully out, as some whales do. Despite the common myth that sharks are largely instinct-driven "eating machines", recent studies have indicated that many species possess powerful problem-solving skills, social complexity and curiosity.
[73] [74] With sharks, orcas may herd them to the surface and strike them with their tail flukes, [73] while bottom-dwelling rays are cornered, pinned to the ground and taken to the surface. [75] In other parts of the world, orcas have preyed on broadnose sevengill sharks, [76] whale sharks, [77] [78] and even great white sharks.
The researchers’ analysis revealed exactly how the killer whales, often hunting as a group, subdue the whale shark. First, the orcas use their bodies to hit a whale shark at high speed.
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Since its discovery in 1976, only a few megamouth sharks have been seen, with 55 specimens known to have been caught or sighted as of 2012, including three recordings on film. Like the basking shark and whale shark, it is a filter feeder, and swims with its enormous mouth wide open, filtering water for plankton and jellyfish. It is distinctive ...
[20] [21] Some Greenland sharks have been found to also eat minke whale. [21] Small Greenland sharks eat predominantly squid, as well as sea birds, crabs, amphipods, marine snails, brittle stars, sea urchins, and jellyfish, while the larger sharks that are greater than 200 cm (79 in) were discovered eating prey such as epibenthic and benthic ...