Animal Fact File: Whale Sharks
What fish can grow longer than a school bus but feeds on tiny plankton? The whale shark is the largest fish on Earth — and one of its gentlest.
From tropical coastlines to the open ocean, these enormous fish spend their lives searching for tiny creatures drifting through the water. Discover how whale sharks use filter feeding instead of hunting, dive thousands of feet beneath the surface, and migrate incredible distances across the globe. You'll also learn why these gentle giants are endangered and how scientists are working to protect them for generations to come.
Teachers and parents, you can use this fact file to:
- Introduce an animal, wildlife, or life science unit
- Support nonfiction reading and vocabulary practice
- Explore animal adaptations, behaviors, and habitats
- Compare animals and the ecosystems they live in
- Practice finding and organizing information from nonfiction texts
- Prepare students for animal research projects or presentations (use our animal report templates!)
- Connect science learning to conservation and environmental issues
- Pair with videos, articles, or other informational texts (see Related Resources below)
Meet the Sharks is an interactive adventure that lets you explore some of the ocean's most incredible shark species: the great white, hammerhead, whale, blacktip, and tiger shark.
Click on each illustrated shark to watch an exciting educational video from state-of-the-art BBC productions like Blue Planet and Deadly 60. Then click on each shark's name to uncover a fun fact about what makes that species unique — from extraordinary senses to surprising behaviors to mind-blowing adaptations.
Whether you're meeting these amazing fish (that's right — sharks are fish!) for the first time or already know a thing or two about sharks, this interactive experience is a fun way to discover how each species has adapted to life in the ocean. Dive in, explore, and see which shark becomes your favorite!
Dive into the incredible world of sharks with this thrilling BBC Learning Hub playlist! From the sleek and powerful great white to the gentle giant whale shark and the uniquely shaped hammerhead, these videos showcase the beauty and mystery of the ocean's most iconic predators. Perfect for sparking curiosity and a little shark-inspired awe in your classroom! 🦈
In The Lonely Whale Shark's Journey, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains that no one knows for sure where whale sharks give birth but scientists have an idea. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet II, a natural history series that explores the world's oceans, the animals that live in them, and the threats they face, using modern filming techniques and equipment to capture previously unseen areas of the ocean.
In Whale Sharks Are Both Protector and Predator, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores the fascinating behavior of whale sharks, the largest fish in the ocean. Whale sharks use their massive size and feeding strategies to survive in the ocean, often sharing food sources with predatory species like tuna. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In Whale Sharks in Southern Asia's Seas, narrator Sir David Attenborough shows how the once-endangered whale shark is now protected in Indonesian waters, thanks to local fishermen. With respect for the ocean and its inhabitants, these communities have made sustainable fishing choices, allowing whale shark populations to recover. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
More Like This
What predator can burst through the ocean at nearly 40 miles per hour, replace thousands of teeth during its lifetime, and help keep marine ecosystems healthy? The answer may surprise you.
Separate fact from fiction as you dive into the world of the great white shark. Discover the incredible adaptations that make it one of the ocean's most successful hunters, from powerful jaws and razor-sharp senses to stealthy hunting strategies. You'll also learn why great white sharks are essential to healthy oceans and how conservation efforts are helping protect this iconic predator.
Teachers and parents, you can use this fact file to:
- Introduce an animal, wildlife, or life science unit
- Support nonfiction reading and vocabulary practice
- Explore animal adaptations, behaviors, and habitats
- Compare animals and the ecosystems they live in
- Practice finding and organizing information from nonfiction texts
- Prepare students for animal research projects or presentations (use our animal report templates!)
- Connect science learning to conservation and environmental issues
- Pair with videos, articles, or other informational texts (see Related Resources below)
What shark can leap completely out of the water while chasing its dinner? If you guessed the blacktip shark, you're right!
Known for their speed, agility, and spectacular spinning jumps, blacktip sharks are among the ocean's most exciting predators. Explore the warm coastal waters they call home, discover how they sometimes work together to herd schools of fish, and learn why mangroves, coral reefs, and estuaries are so important to their survival. You'll also find out how people are helping keep these remarkable coastal sharks thriving.
Teachers and parents, you can use this fact file to:
- Introduce an animal, wildlife, or life science unit
- Support nonfiction reading and vocabulary practice
- Explore animal adaptations, behaviors, and habitats
- Compare animals and the ecosystems they live in
- Practice finding and organizing information from nonfiction texts
- Prepare students for animal research projects or presentations (use our animal report templates!)
- Connect science learning to conservation and environmental issues
- Pair with videos, articles, or other informational texts (see Related Resources below)
What shark gets its name from the dark stripes along its body and has one of the most varied diets in the ocean? Meet one of the sea's most adaptable predators.
Powerful, curious, and built to thrive in a wide range of habitats, tiger sharks are among the ocean's most successful hunters. Discover how they use their keen senses and powerful jaws to find food, why they migrate across thousands of miles of ocean, and what role they play in keeping marine ecosystems in balance. You'll also learn about the challenges tiger sharks face and the efforts underway to protect them.
Teachers and parents, you can use this fact file to:
- Introduce an animal, wildlife, or life science unit
- Support nonfiction reading and vocabulary practice
- Explore animal adaptations, behaviors, and habitats
- Compare animals and the ecosystems they live in
- Practice finding and organizing information from nonfiction texts
- Prepare students for animal research projects or presentations (use our animal report templates!)
- Connect science learning to conservation and environmental issues
- Pair with videos, articles, or other informational texts (see Related Resources below)
What shark has a head shaped like a hammer — and uses it like a high-tech hunting tool? Hammerhead sharks may look unusual, but every part of their unique design helps them survive.
Explore the fascinating world of these extraordinary sharks and discover how their wide heads help them see more, sense hidden prey, and make sharp turns while hunting. Learn why some hammerheads gather in schools of hundreds, travel thousands of miles across the ocean, and face growing conservation challenges that make protecting them more important than ever.
Teachers and parents, you can use this fact file to:
- Introduce an animal, wildlife, or life science unit
- Support nonfiction reading and vocabulary practice
- Explore animal adaptations, behaviors, and habitats
- Compare animals and the ecosystems they live in
- Practice finding and organizing information from nonfiction texts
- Prepare students for animal research projects or presentations (use our animal report templates!)
- Connect science learning to conservation and environmental issues
- Pair with videos, articles, or other informational texts (see Related Resources below)
What predator can burst through the ocean at nearly 40 miles per hour, replace thousands of teeth during its lifetime, and help keep marine ecosystems healthy? The answer may surprise you.
Separate fact from fiction as you dive into the world of the great white shark. Discover the incredible adaptations that make it one of the ocean's most successful hunters, from powerful jaws and razor-sharp senses to stealthy hunting strategies. You'll also learn why great white sharks are essential to healthy oceans and how conservation efforts are helping protect this iconic predator.
Teachers and parents, you can use this fact file to:
- Introduce an animal, wildlife, or life science unit
- Support nonfiction reading and vocabulary practice
- Explore animal adaptations, behaviors, and habitats
- Compare animals and the ecosystems they live in
- Practice finding and organizing information from nonfiction texts
- Prepare students for animal research projects or presentations (use our animal report templates!)
- Connect science learning to conservation and environmental issues
- Pair with videos, articles, or other informational texts (see Related Resources below)
What shark can leap completely out of the water while chasing its dinner? If you guessed the blacktip shark, you're right!
Known for their speed, agility, and spectacular spinning jumps, blacktip sharks are among the ocean's most exciting predators. Explore the warm coastal waters they call home, discover how they sometimes work together to herd schools of fish, and learn why mangroves, coral reefs, and estuaries are so important to their survival. You'll also find out how people are helping keep these remarkable coastal sharks thriving.
Teachers and parents, you can use this fact file to:
- Introduce an animal, wildlife, or life science unit
- Support nonfiction reading and vocabulary practice
- Explore animal adaptations, behaviors, and habitats
- Compare animals and the ecosystems they live in
- Practice finding and organizing information from nonfiction texts
- Prepare students for animal research projects or presentations (use our animal report templates!)
- Connect science learning to conservation and environmental issues
- Pair with videos, articles, or other informational texts (see Related Resources below)
What shark gets its name from the dark stripes along its body and has one of the most varied diets in the ocean? Meet one of the sea's most adaptable predators.
Powerful, curious, and built to thrive in a wide range of habitats, tiger sharks are among the ocean's most successful hunters. Discover how they use their keen senses and powerful jaws to find food, why they migrate across thousands of miles of ocean, and what role they play in keeping marine ecosystems in balance. You'll also learn about the challenges tiger sharks face and the efforts underway to protect them.
Teachers and parents, you can use this fact file to:
- Introduce an animal, wildlife, or life science unit
- Support nonfiction reading and vocabulary practice
- Explore animal adaptations, behaviors, and habitats
- Compare animals and the ecosystems they live in
- Practice finding and organizing information from nonfiction texts
- Prepare students for animal research projects or presentations (use our animal report templates!)
- Connect science learning to conservation and environmental issues
- Pair with videos, articles, or other informational texts (see Related Resources below)
What shark has a head shaped like a hammer — and uses it like a high-tech hunting tool? Hammerhead sharks may look unusual, but every part of their unique design helps them survive.
Explore the fascinating world of these extraordinary sharks and discover how their wide heads help them see more, sense hidden prey, and make sharp turns while hunting. Learn why some hammerheads gather in schools of hundreds, travel thousands of miles across the ocean, and face growing conservation challenges that make protecting them more important than ever.
Teachers and parents, you can use this fact file to:
- Introduce an animal, wildlife, or life science unit
- Support nonfiction reading and vocabulary practice
- Explore animal adaptations, behaviors, and habitats
- Compare animals and the ecosystems they live in
- Practice finding and organizing information from nonfiction texts
- Prepare students for animal research projects or presentations (use our animal report templates!)
- Connect science learning to conservation and environmental issues
- Pair with videos, articles, or other informational texts (see Related Resources below)