Whale Shark
Rhincodon typus
Sighting evidence at Ibo Island Reef, Quirimbas Archipelago
Photo: Simon Pierce · CC BY-NC
Whale sharks appear around Ibo Island's reef systems between October and February, coinciding with the coral spawning aggregations and plankton blooms that sweep through the Mozambique Channel during the austral summer. These individuals are typically juvenile males in the 5 to 8 metre range, feeding on the surface in characteristically slow, filter-feeding passes that allow extended snorkel encounters. The Quirimbas population appears to form part of a broader Indian Ocean circuit, with photo-ID databases linking several individuals to sighting records from Mozambique's Tofo Bay further south.
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.