Male and female whale sharks — filter-feeding marine behemoths — grow at different rates, with females doing so more slowly but getting much larger than the guys, according to research that offers deeper insight into the biology of Earth's largest fish. Whale sharks of both sexes were found to have their fastest growth as juveniles, about 20 to 30 centimetres annually. (David Loh/REUTERS)It is believed whale sharks may live 100 to 150 years. "Whale sharks are remarkable in that females have massive litters of pups, up to 300 at one time. "Our study provides the first evidence that male and female whale sharks grow at different rates," Meekan said.

Source: CBC News September 18, 2020 11:15 UTC