The world's largest omnivore has officially changed and is now a whale shark.
Whale Shark is no stranger to record keeping. In fact, before the new record for "largest omnivore" was awarded to them, they already held records for "the world's largest fish" and "the world's largest non-mammalian vertebrate".
Historically, whale sharks were classified as predatory sharks, one of only three species. These types of sharks are very rare and include whale sharks, basking sharks, and megamouth sharks. Filter-feeding sharks swim through the ocean, bringing large amounts of water into their mouths. As water flows over their gills, the rough pads in their mouths grab heavy objects like krill and phytoplankton and deliver them to their stomachs.
Why are whale sharks considered omnivores?
Whale sharks are primarily filter feeders, but new research shows they also eat seaweed
A whale shark's diet consists primarily of krill, phytoplankton, fish eggs and crab larvae, and the whale shark is technically called a carnivore because it eats small animals. However, a recent study appears to indicate that the diet of whale sharks has expanded significantly, especially in the high seas.
The study biopsied whale sharks and subjected them to various tests. During the course of the research it was concluded that whale sharks not only feed on small marine organisms but also on plants!
"This makes us rethink everything we thought we knew about what whale sharks eat. And, in fact, what they do in the open ocean."
Dr. Mark Mikan
With this new discovery, whale sharks immediately became the clear winner among omnivores. As the record holder for various other size-related awards, it’s no surprise!
The type of seaweed detected is called sargassum. Sargassum is a type of brown seaweed that is commonly found floating near the surface of the water. It often detaches from the reef to which it is attached and will float on large mats. Whale sharks appear to ingest small amounts of this seaweed and have evolved the ability to process small amounts of it. They still need krill and phytoplankton, but if they happen to eat some seaweed, they don't care too much!
How big is a whale shark?
The whale shark is one of the largest creatures on earth. In some cases, whale sharks have been recorded as being over 60 feet long and weighing over 41,000 pounds (about 15 tons). The only creatures in the ocean larger than whale sharks are true whales (whale sharks are not actually whales).
The discovery seemed to make sense to Dr. Mark Mikan, especially when he compared the largest animals on land to those in the water.
"In the ocean, we have always thought that animals that became very large, such as whales and whale sharks, were moving up the food chain with shrimps and small fish. It turns out that maybe the evolutionary system is not that different on land and in water."
Dr. Mark Mikan
How long do whale sharks live?
If huge size isn't enough for you, these giant fish have lifespans of over 100 years! These mammoths have been swimming around eating fish (and plants!) for over a century, and it's truly amazing. Whale sharks reach adulthood at around 30 years of age.
Can whale sharks harm humans?
Despite the word "shark" in their name, whale sharks do not harm humans. Before this study, they were generally thought to be carnivorous but very different from other sharks. Rather than killing prey such as large fish, mammals or even humans, whale sharks swim around and gulp down water, hoping to filter out tiny creatures as they go.
Therefore, they will not chase or attack humans in any way. These ocean giants are gentle and will not attack other creatures. In fact, if a whale shark accidentally eats a human, it will most likely kill the whale shark (and possibly the human as well).What was the animal that held the record before
?
The Kodiak bear previously held the record for the world's largest omnivore
Before the whale shark held the record for the world's largest omnivore, the holder was Alaska's Kodiak bear . The Kodiak bear is a regional species of brown bear (grizzly bear) that lives on Kodiak Island in Alaska. Kodiak Island is extremely resource-rich, allowing bears to grow to truly terrifying sizes. The largest Kodiak bear ever known was Clyde, a 2,400-pound brown bear who died in 1987. Although polar bears are larger than Kodiak bears, they are almost entirely carnivorous and are therefore excluded from this special designation.
The largest animal overall
The whale shark is the largest fish in the ocean and the largest omnivore in the world, but what is the largest animal overall? Simply put, the largest animal in the history of the earth is the blue whale. The blue whale is not only the largest living creature today, it is also the largest living creature of all time. On average, blue whales are between 75 and 80 feet long and weigh between 290,000 and 330,000 pounds. For reference, it would take 40 elephants or 30 Tyrannosaurus to equal the weight of a blue whale.
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