Whale shark (Rhincodon typus)

General data

Main name: Whale shark
Climates: Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate
Habitat: Saltwater
Native: Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Australia & Oceania
Distribution: Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Black sea, Pacific Ocean, Indian ocean, Southern ocean

Classification

Genus: Rhincodon - Whale sharks
Family: Rhincodontidae - Whale sharks
Order: Orectolobiformes - Carpet shark
Class: Elasmobranchii - Sharks and Rays
Superclass: Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes

Taxonomy of Fishes

Osteichthyes - Bony fishes->
Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes->
- Elasmobranchii - Sharks and Rays->
  - Lamniformes - Mackerel sharks->
  - Carcharhiniformes - Ground sharks->
  - Rhinopristiformes - Shovelnose rays->
  - Torpediniformes - Electric rays->
  - Rajiformes - Skates and rays->
  - Orectolobiformes - Carpet shark->
    
    Rhincodontidae - Whale sharks->
    
    Rhincodon - Whale sharks->
    
    Whale shark (Rhincodon typus)
    
    Ginglymostomatidae - Nurse sharks->
    
    Orectolobidae - Wobbegongs->
    
    Stegostomatidae - Zebra sharks->
    
    Brachaeluridae - Brachaeluridae->
    
    Hemiscylliidae - Bamboo sharks->
    
    Parascylliidae - Collared carpet sharks->
  - Squatiniformes - Angelsharks->
  - Heterodontiformes - Bullhead and horn sharks->
  - Hexanchiformes - Six-gill sharks->
  - Myliobatiformes - Stingrays->
  - Squaliformes - Sleeper and dogfish sharks->
  - Echinorhiniformes - Bramble sharks->
  - Pristiophoriformes - Saw sharks->
- Holocephali - Chimaeras->
Agnatha - Jawless fishes->