Whale Shark
Rhincodon typus
Sighting evidence at Fahal Island, Muscat
Photo: Simon Pierce · CC BY-NC
Whale sharks visit Fahal Island's upwelling-rich waters primarily October through March, drawn by concentrations of fish eggs and zooplankton generated by cool, nutrient-rich currents from the Arabian Sea. As the ocean's largest fish they filter thousands of litres of water hourly but remain entirely harmless to divers. Satellite tagging studies suggest individuals in Oman undertake transoceanic migrations connecting the Arabian Sea to the western Indian Ocean.
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.