whale shark

whale shark
whale shark
n.
the only species (Rhiniodon typus) of a family (Rhiniodontidae, order Orectolobiformes) of huge, spotted, egg-laying sharks that live in warm seas, have many small teeth, and feed on plankton and small fishes by means of gill strainers: the largest of fishes, often reaching 15 m ( c. 50 ft) in length

English World dictionary. . 2014.

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  • Whale shark — Temporal range: 60–0 Ma …   Wikipedia

  • Whale shark — Whale Whale, n. [OE. whal, AS. hw[ae]l; akin to D. walvisch, G. wal, walfisch, OHG. wal, Icel. hvalr, Dan. & Sw. hval, hvalfisk. Cf. {Narwhal}, {Walrus}.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any aquatic mammal of the order {Cetacea}, especially any one of the large… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Whale shark — Shark Shark, n. [Of uncertain origin; perhaps through OF. fr. carcharus a kind of dogfish, Gr. karchari as, so called from its sharp teeth, fr. ka rcharos having sharp or jagged teeth; or perhaps named from its rapacity (cf. {Shark}, v. t. & i.); …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • whale shark — whale′ shark n. ich a tropical shark, Rhincodon typus, ranging in size from 30 to 60 ft. (9 to 18 m) and having small teeth and a sievelike structure over the gills for catching plankton • Etymology: 1880–85 …   From formal English to slang

  • whale shark — noun large spotted shark of warm surface waters worldwide; resembles a whale and feeds chiefly on plankton • Syn: ↑Rhincodon typus • Hypernyms: ↑shark • Member Holonyms: ↑Rhincodon, ↑genus Rhincodon * * * noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • whale shark — Liver Liv er, n. [AS. lifer; akin to D. liver, G. leber, OHG. lebara, Icel. lifr, Sw. lefver, and perh. to Gr. ? fat, E. live, v.] (Anat.) A very large glandular and vascular organ in the visceral cavity of all vertebrates. [1913 Webster] Note:… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • whale shark — a tropical shark, Rhincodon typus, ranging in size from 30 to 60 ft. (9 to 18 m), having small teeth and a sievelike structure over its gills for catching plankton. [1880 85] * * * Species (Rhincodon typus) of gigantic but harmless shark found… …   Universalium

  • whale shark — bangininis ryklys statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Rhincodon typus angl. basking shark; whale shark rus. китовая акула; китообразная акула ryšiai: platesnis terminas – bangininiai rykliai …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • whale shark — noun A very large spotted shark, Rhincodon typus, of warm marine waters, similar to a whale, that feeds by filtering plankton from the water …   Wiktionary

  • whale shark — noun Date: circa 1885 a shark (Rhincodon typus) of warm waters that has small teeth, feeds chiefly on plankton strained by its gill rakers, may sometimes attain a length of up to 60 feet (18.3 meters), and is the largest known fish …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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