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Pop quiz: Is a whale shark a whale or a shark? Correct Answer: It is a shark! While whales are mammals, whale sharks, like this one in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, are actually fish. They get their name from their enormous size, sometimes stretching to around 40 feet long. Despite being the largest shark in the ocean, whale sharks are gentle giants, feeding primarily on plankton. *Bonus fact*: Notice those white spots? Those are unique to each individual, just like a human fingerprint! (Photo: Ryan Eckert. Image description: Whale shark swims near the surface.)

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I drew a lemon shark 🍋

Sharks are the best animals.

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In light of the new Spinosaurus discovery, I would like to remind everyone of the all-time king of “we don’t know what the fuck this fossil is.”

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This beautiful great hammerhead was one of the stars of my recent trip to Bimini! Despite their enormous size and power, they are incredibly cautious and can even be regarded as shy. Unlike the tiger sharks at Tiger Beach, these sharks are easily spooked by people not being calm, or even the ever-present, far smaller nurse sharks!

By Hannes Klostermann

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Tiger Beach - Lemon shark by Tim Priest

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Where do whales go to get braces? The orca-dontist! *crickets* 

We’ll show ourselves out, you just enjoy this breaching orca in Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. 

(Photo: Michael Richlen) 

[Image description: An orca leaping out of the water.]

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Vertical feeding whale shark by Paul Cowell

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Pop quiz: what do hungry humpback whales like to eat? 

Don’t be fooled by this photo: humpback whales aren’t into eating birds! Rather, these baleen whales live on a diet of krill and small fish. Birds tend to hang around feeding humpback whales to get a bit of the leftovers. 

(Photo: Jeremy Winn) 

[Image description: A bird flying near a feeding humpback whale.]

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The humpback whale’s genus is Megaptera, which means “big wing.” It’s easy to see how they get this name – their flippers are about a third the length of their entire body! Each winter, these big-winged whales gather in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary to mate, give birth, and raise their young. 

(Photo: NOAA, under NOAA Permit #774-1714) 

[Image description: A humpback whale underwater with its flippers outstretched.]

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🔥 We NEED sharks alive and thriving if we want to ensure our own future. 70% of our oxygen comes from HEALTHY Oceans...and in order to remain healthy, sharks are a vital and irreplaceable key component! Despite how much we need them alive, more than 100 MILLION sharks are slaughtered every single year. We are witnessing ‘the end’ grow nearer every single day. It’s not a time to tone down the dramatic vibe. It’s time to yell louder, call for action, seriously nix the excuses, stop using single-use plastics, and do whatever we can to protect ALL sharks. Every moment counts. ©️Sharktopia

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Scuba Diving with a Whale Shark by Darryl MacDonald

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Hovering Tiger shark by SubseaSputnik

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Dinosaurs

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Aquaman: Jabberjaw Special #1 - “A Bigger Beat” (2018)

written by Dan Abnett art by Paul Pelletier, Andrew Hennessy, & Rain Beredo

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Great Hammerhead Shark taking fish by Tomas Kotouc

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