Whale Shark
Rhincodon typus
Sighting evidence at Santa Monica Bay, Boa Vista
Photo: Simon Pierce · CC BY-NC
Whale sharks visit Santa Monica Bay from February through May, coinciding with the peak of the Cape Verde upwelling season that generates dense concentrations of copepods and fish eggs in the bay's sheltered waters. Research tagging by the Whale Shark Project Cape Verde suggests these individuals follow a trans-Atlantic circuit linking the Caribbean, Brazil, and West Africa, with Boa Vista serving as a critical fuelling stop. Juveniles of 4 to 6 m are most common but adults exceeding 8 m are recorded each season.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Whale Shark is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.