Whale Shark
Rhincodon typus
Sighting evidence at Blue Whale Alley, Mirissa
Photo: Simon Pierce · CC BY-NC
Whale sharks pass through the channel during the northeast monsoon season, drawn by plankton blooms that spike when the currents converge off the headland. Most sightings are of large solitary adults in the 7 to 10 metre range, cruising slowly at the surface and occasionally descending to mid-water to filter-feed. The proximity to blue whale aggregations makes dual-species encounters in a single trip genuinely possible.
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.