An impressive whale shark, known as the largest fish in the world, was spotted for the second time off the coast of Espírito Santo, Brazil. The sighting was recorded by the team from the Amigos da Jubarte project during a cetacean monitoring campaign on June 21.
“We were at the monitoring site when, suddenly, the shark’s caudal fin appeared right next to the boat,” reported Bruna Rezende, a researcher at Jubarte.LAB, an initiative linked to the project.
Sighting Details
The team, equipped with a drone and a hydrophone to capture underwater sounds, managed to record stunning footage of the animal. Using photogrammetry techniques, the specimen was estimated to be about 8 meters long.
This marks the second sighting of the species in the state. The first was documented by LabNecton, a laboratory at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), which is a partner of the Amigos da Jubarte project.
About the Whale Shark
Despite its name, the whale shark is not a mammal but a filter-feeding shark, the largest fish species known. On average, these animals reach 12 meters in length, but specimens over 20 meters have been recorded.
Harmless to humans, the whale shark has no teeth and feeds on small organisms like plankton, as well as small fish and mollusks. Researcher Bruna explained that the animal’s diet includes both phytoplankton (microscopic aquatic plants) and zooplankton (tiny aquatic animals).
About the Project
The Amigos da Jubarte, an initiative by the Instituto O Canal, monitors cetaceans and other marine species across Espírito Santo, Bahia, and Rio de Janeiro, promoting the conservation and study of marine biodiversity.
This new sighting highlights the importance of preserving marine habitats and supporting monitoring projects like this one.
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