What is the name of the largest shark?

The whale shark is the largest shark and the largest known living fish species. Its scientific name is Rhincodon typus, and despite its enormous size, it is a gentle filter feeder rather than a hunting predator.

Whale sharks feed by swimming through water containing plankton, fish eggs, and tiny organisms, filtering food through specialized gill structures. They live in tropical and warm-temperate waters around the world and often gather seasonally where food is abundant.

The name can cause confusion because whale sharks are not whales. They are cartilaginous fish, related to other sharks and rays; "whale" refers to their whale-like size and broad feeding behavior. Their bodies are recognizable by white spots and stripes, with individual patterns used by researchers for identification.

Exact maximum size is difficult to establish because very large animals are hard to measure accurately. Reliable reports commonly describe individuals around 12 metres long, while larger historical claims remain debated. The whale shark was scientifically described in 1828 from a specimen found near South Africa.