Whale Shark
Rhincodon typus
Sighting evidence at Isla Los Testigos Reef, Los Testigos
Photo: Simon Pierce · CC BY-NC
Whale sharks pass through Los Testigos waters between December and April, drawn by the seasonal plankton blooms that develop in the upwelling-influenced waters of the southeastern Caribbean. Encounters typically occur at the surface or in the top 20 meters where filter feeding is most productive, and the remote location means sightings are uncontested with boats. Individual identification by spot patterns is possible, and sightings here may represent a previously undocumented seasonal aggregation.
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.