Where Do Whale Sharks Live? Tracking Their Habitat

Quick Take

• Despite being the ocean's largest fish, whale sharks gravitate toward a surprisingly specific and narrow slice of the ocean. It is not where most people assume. See their habitat range →
• Just staying alive forces whale sharks to eat a staggering amount every single day, and the difference between a small and large individual is almost hard to believe. See population and size data →
• Some whale sharks have completed one of the longest animal migrations ever recorded, and their destination is the key to understanding their entire life cycle. See their migration routes →

Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are the world’s largest living fish, typically reaching lengths of 40 to 46 feet and weighing over 20 tons. These harmless filter-feeders are identifiable by their flattened, broad heads and unique checkerboard-like patterns of white spots and stripes on a dark blue-gray back. Whale sharks, as a single unique species, are found in tropical and warm temperate oceans worldwide and often migrate to areas with plankton blooms. Continue reading to discover more about where whale sharks live.

Where Do Whale Sharks Live?

Whale sharks are almost always found in temperate to tropical waters across the world. More specifically, they are found between the latitudes of 30°N and 35°S. Temperate water is technically an ocean climate that is between 32 degrees Fahrenheit and 72 degrees Fahrenheit, but whale sharks are rarely found in water that drops below 70 degrees. Tropical water ranges from 68 degrees Fahrenheit to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and whale sharks can survive in these climates year-round. The preferred water temperature for a whale shark is between 70 and 80 degrees, but they are occasionally found outside this range.

Whale sharks can be found off the coast of India, the Maldives, Belize, South Africa, Mexico, and Southeast Asia. These warm coastal climates are home to their favorite foods, which often have nearby feeding grounds. During the year, they will migrate across the world in search of food and to mate.

Although it’s rare, sightings at the extreme ends of their preferred climate have happened. These sightings have happened as far north as the Bay of Fundy in Canada and as far south as Victoria, Australia.

What Does a Whale Shark’s Habitat Look Like?

Whale sharks can be found in shallow waters as well as the open ocean, but they usually stick to the shallows. Their food sources, such as plankton and small crustaceans, are often found in shallower areas, which draws the sharks closer to shore. In the shallows, whale sharks are often found in lagoons surrounding coral atolls and reefs since the water is warmer and food is abundant.

As pelagic sharks, they do migrate and can often be found swimming in the open ocean. While many species would find this trek treacherous, the sheer size of these fish keeps them from danger. Whale sharks spend the majority of their time in the open ocean in the epipelagic zone, the uppermost layer, which is warmer and filled with sunlight.

Whale sharks dive to extreme depths, often over 6,000 feet, to feed on deep-sea plankton, navigate, or regulate their body temperature.

Why Do Whale Sharks Migrate?

Whale sharks migrate for food and breeding opportunities. Whale sharks embark on some of the longest migrations in the animal kingdom, with some subgroups traveling from Panama to the Mariana Trench over 841 days. This migration totaled over 12,427 miles and was the largest recorded migration of a whale shark.

Food is important to whale sharks. In order to maintain their weight, they need to eat at least 2% of their body weight per day. A smaller whale shark may need only 45 pounds of food per day, while the largest individuals may require about 800 pounds daily.

Migrating allows whale sharks to live in the richest feeding grounds, as well as avoid competition with other filter-feeding species. During the summer months, whale sharks head toward the poles as the water warms to take advantage of the previously inaccessible feeding areas. As the water cools, they head toward the equator to take advantage of the nutrient-rich tropical waters.

Despite their predominantly solitary nature, these fish exhibit migratory behaviors that occasionally result in significant aggregations. Prominent hotspots for these gatherings include the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, Belize, and Japan, among other select locations.

Whale sharks also migrate to breeding and pupping grounds. Although there are large gaps in the scientific understanding of the whale shark’s reproductive cycle, migration surely plays a role. Since whale sharks give birth to live pups, finding safe places to do so is one of the primary factors that scientists attribute to female shark migrations. Current research suggests that females prefer isolated islands in the middle of the ocean that are free from predators.

In 2009, a baby whale shark was found off the coast of a Philippine island, potentially confirming the area as a pupping ground. Additional pupping grounds include Ticao Pass and St. Helena.

Where is the Largest Population of Whale Sharks?

Whale sharks live in two major population groups. The first group ranges from Maine to South Africa and primarily inhabits the Atlantic Ocean. Members of this group often visit the Yucatan feeding grounds and can be seen in Mexico. The largest group, however, lives in the Indo-Pacific and makes up 75% of the total whale shark population.

Where Can a Human See Whale Sharks?

Although the species is endangered and lives in the ocean, it is still possible to see a whale shark in person. Eco-tourism has become an economic engine in many places, including Mexico, even as the whale shark remains listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The feeding migration to the Yucatan Peninsula each year can attract several hundred whale sharks. Although seeing these beautiful animals seems idyllic, boat strikes and water pollution can potentially harm the sharks that have migrated to the Yucatan for thousands of years.

There are a few aquariums around the world that house whale sharks, including the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia, which is currently the only aquarium in the United States confirmed to house whale sharks.