by Nora McGeevey/Smithsonianmag.com Whale sharks are known as gentle, bespeckled giants that swim in tropical seas and scoop up plankton with their cavernous mouths. For more information see our privacy page. Sharks which have these types of teeth include the shark ray and the smooth hound shark. Whale sharks have a mouth that can be 1.5m wide containing up to 350 rows of tiny teeth and 10 filter pads, which it uses to filter feed. Each one of those little lines is a row of whale shark teeth, each about the size of a pencil lead. Whale sharks are ovoviviparous—females lay eggs, but they develop inside her body. Sharks are terrifying creatures at the best of times, and the Whale Shark -- despite being harmless to humans -- is the biggest of all, given they can grow up to 32 feet in length. Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. Scientists from the Okinawa Churashima Research Center in Japan, who authored the study, say it's "a novel mechanism of eye protection in vertebrates". There are indeed many species that can qualify this way. In addition to the whole "teeth on their eyeballs" thing, whale sharks also has what the Okinawan researchers are describing as "a strong ability to retract the eyeball into the eye socket. Information about the diet comes from the examination of stomachs inside sharks caught by fishermen. According to the research paper, this adaption is most likely unique to whale sharks.Â, Pretty sure whale sharks have just officially become one of the most metal fish in the sea.Â. Sharks which have these types of teeth include the shark ray and the smooth hound shark. However, they do not seem to play any role in eating. Whale Sharks Have Tiny Teeth on Their Eyeballs The ‘dermal denticles’ probably help protect the eyes of these gentle giants, scientists say A whale shark off the coast of Australia. Animals Beginning With N: Photos and Illustrations, A Personal Wishlist of Campsites in Zambia, Guide to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South African Owls, a Guide to the Owl Species Found in South Africa. The technical term is "dermal denticles. The head is wide and flat with two small eyes at the front corners. Scientists say whale sharks have teeth on their eyeballs. It remains a mystery. ", Dermal denticles are essentially tiny structures that look and feel very similar to scales, but are actually teeth. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. WHALE sharks have hundreds upon hundreds of tiny teeth coating their eyeballs, marine biologists have astonishingly discovered. The eye denticles differed in morphology from the dermal denticles that make up the whale sharks’ “skin”, showing the presence of these tiny teeth achieves more than streamlining the animal. These dermal denticles actually help reduce friction in the water, enabling sharks to swim faster.Â. Whale sharks have layer of teeth on their eyes, new study finds Whale sharks are the largest non-mammal vertebrate in existence, growing as long as 59 feet, or 18 meters, in length. Relative to other sharks, they have very small teeth but make up for that in quantity. Well, large mouths, and very small teeth. A study showed that it is possible for whale sharks to have several litters from one mating. Marine biologists from Japan say whale sharks have eyeballs coated in tiny teeth, in a discovery unique to this hulking but gentle aquatic species. A 12.1 m (39.7 ft) whale shark was reported to have a mouth 1.55 m (5.1 ft) across. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Whale sharks can grow up to 40 feet (12 meters) long, but on average they grow to 18 to 32.8 feet (5.5 to 10 m) and weigh 20.6 tons (18.7 metric tonnes). Toothed whales as the name suggest have teeth which they use to attack, capture and in some cases chew or tear apart their prey so that they can swallow and better digest their food. They need to filter a lot of water to get the nutrients required to power their giant bodies (up to 40 feet long!) As the name implies, megamouths have mega mouths. Animals That Start With X: A List of All the Animals Beginning with X, How to Tell the Difference Between a Canada Lynx and a Bobcat, Getting Whacked by a Whale Shark: A Close Encounter in Mexico, Swimming with Whale Sharks in Holbox, Mexico, Things to Do in Asheville: Wildlife Adventures in the Mountains of North Carolina, Books to Take on an African Safari (our favorites). According to new research, they also have a sharp eye—literally: their eyes are covered in tiny teeth. I count about 150 rows. Want to read more about whale sharks? They don't have the teeth, the jaws or the throat to eat anything that big. When the biggest shark in the world swims straight at you with its mouth wide open, it’s a sight you’ll never forget. From the lab to your inbox. Why do they need teeth if they are filter feeders? But scientists have just revealed a whole new layer of wonder (and potentially terror) regarding the largest fish in the sea. Check out [easyazon_link identifier=”1771471301″ locale=”US” tag=”traforwil-20″]Wandering Whale Sharks[/easyazon_link] by Susumu Shingu or [easyazon_link identifier=”168152094X” locale=”US” tag=”traforwil-20″]Whale Sharks[/easyazon_link] by Allan Morey. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. And that’s exactly what happened when we went swimming with whale sharks in Mexico. 6 streaming services you can give as gifts (including Disney Plus), Great gifts you can still get in time for Christmas, Watch Wonder Woman 1984 on HBO Max, starting Christmas Day, Discuss: Scientists say whale sharks have teeth on their eyeballs. You can just about see them in the above picture. Yes. Similar to the other 2 filter feeders, the Basking and the Whale sharks, it feeds on planktons mostly. Yes, whale sharks have teeth, about 27,000 of them. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. However it can’t bite or chew. Although all toothed whales have teeth – the number, size and position of their teeth varies from species to species. Now look closely at an enlargement of my whale shark photo you will see a narrow plate just inside the bottom lip where these rows of teeth reside. Great whites are the world's largest predatory fish, according to Discovery. Does the whale shark have any teeth? Even though whale sharks are filter feeders, they still have teeth; as many as 3,000. But, the function of their teeth is not yet since they are filter feeders. Hmmm…scientists are still not sure. Whale sharks can have a couple of hundred, while the notorious great white has "only" 50. So why do whale sharks have teeth? Get the latest science stories from CNET every week. Whale shark mouths can contain over 300 rows of tiny teeth and 20 filter pads which it uses to filter feed. The undisputed leader in the number of teeth – a whale shark – up to 15 000 teeth, located in 18-20 rows on each jaw! Whale sharks have a very sharp eye and these eyes are covered in tiny teeth. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. We receive a small percentage of sales made through these links at no extra cost to the buyer. Whale sharks, the largest non-mammal vertebrate in the world, have small teeth covering their eyeballs, researchers in Japan have discovered. Whale shark pups are about 2 feet long when born. Shark skin, with its rough, sandpaper-like texture are also made up of dermal denticles. I know! Yep, that adds up. While they do have 300 rows of teeth in their giant mouths, whale sharks don’t use them for eating. The whale shark is a giant of the oceans: the dimensions of its body gives it the title of the largest fish in the world and therefore, also the biggest shark.It is the only member of the genus Rhincodon. In whale sharks, teeth don’t play a major role in feeding. They arethe apex predatorof the seas, meaning they have no natural enemies. They're harmless to humans but still... teeth on eyeballs is pretty metal. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. On the Way Out The final group of teeth are the small and unused teeth. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Aside from whales all species of dolphin and porpoise also belong to the toothed whale suborder and also possess teeth. These sharks rarely have large numbers of teeth, instead having a few very large slab-like teeth. If you count you will see more than 20 tiny whale shark teeth in each row. The teeth are a little different from those found on shark skin, because they are designed for "abrasion resistance". It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Marine biologists from Japandiscovered the dermal denticles lining the outer surface of the membrane and each has some 3,000 teeth around it. The rules dictate that you must always stay at least two meters away from the sharks. A retired shark? An adult can have up to 300 rows with about 3,000 teeth in its entire mouth! Close up of Whale Shark Teeth by Ross Robertson, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. They are not dolphins. The teeth are arranged in more than 300 tooth rows along the surface of the upper and lower jaw. You can also catch whale shark tours from Cancun and Isla Mujeres. Whale sharks have more than 300 rows of teeth just inside of their mouth but each tooth is only about 2mm long (the size of a pencil lead). These cookies do not store any personal information. Some researchers suggest that the teeth of whale sharks are a result of an evolutionary trait. The whale shark teeth Here is what we do know. Incredible photos! And a bit closer up. Because whale sharks do … You always feel so small in their presence. Why sharks have so many teeth should not surprise you. In one of their filter-feeding methods, they suction water into their mouths at high velocities while remaining stationary. Check out this awesome photo taken by Ross Robertson at the Smithsonian Institution. Look closely at the bottom lip! (or the photo below). On the Way Out The final group of teeth are the small and unused teeth. But they can travel quickly in any direction and if you can’t get out of the way fast enough you might have a whale shark close encounter like the one Hal did. The research, published in PLOS One, … Prior research had shown that whale sharks have dermal denticles on other parts of their body—in fact, on most of their body. What are facts about whale sharks? Megamouth sharks have up to 50 rows of teeth in the upper jaw, and up to 75 in the lower jaw. Their teeth play no role in feeding, however: whale sharks are one of three shark species that filter-feed. The whale shark possesses almost 27,000 teeth in total. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. We went swimming with whale sharks in Holbox Island, just north of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Jokes apart, all sharks have teeth, but what you may want to know if there are sharks that do not bite or their teeth may not be too harmful for humans. *This article may contain affiliate links. Whale sharks have five large pairs of gills. The shark has several thousand teeth in 11 to 12 rows in its jaws, but each tooth is only 1/12th of an inch [3 mm] in length. Do Whale Sharks have teeth? Even though whale sharks are filter feeders, they still have teeth; as many as 3,000. A new study on whale sharks reveals the existence of tiny teeth-like structures covering the eyes. There are curved cusps on its tiny teeth. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The placoid scales of cartilaginous fishes are more commonly called dermal denticles and are modified teeth-like structures covered with hard enamel. Essentially these teeth are designed to help protect the whale shark's eyeballs. The good news is that a whale shark is not going to eat you. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Check out this awesome photo taken by Ross Robertson at the Smithsonian Institution. If you count you will … I felt so tiny…they are so impressive! Whale shark mouths are formidable, featuring over 300 rows of tiny teeth. Whale Sharks Have Tiny Teeth on Their Eyeballs. 150 x 20? The high tooth count, plus their fantastic ability to sense things from miles away, coupled with impressive body movement, makes sharks unique in many ways. The sharks have placoid scales, which are made of … Food moves through filtering pads that cover the entrance of their throats. They’re not easy to see. We delete comments that violate our policy, which we encourage you to read. She serves on the Board of Directors of SEE Turtles, a non-profit sea turtle conservation organization. Researchers are still unsure of what purpose whale shark teeth could possibly serve. Their skin is dark grey with a white belly marked with p… Zoologist and amateur wildlife photographer. That’s why their mouths open so wide. The spiracles are located just behind the eyes. Unlike many other sharks, whale sharks' mouths are located at the front of the head rather than on the underside of the head. Pendent shark – the number of dental rows is 20-28 on each jaw, with a total of 300-400 teeth. Express. White and tiger sharks – 280-300 teeth, which are located in 5-6 rows on each jaw. They are minute and less than 3 millimeters in length and they curve inwards like hooks. The size of each tooth is about 3 millimeters. Yes, and its original name (Rhinodonte) literally means "rasp tooth." We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. There is still a lot to learn about the life cycle of a whale shark. Whale sharks are filter feeders. They are filter feeders, sifting tiny plankton and fish eggs from the sea. The whale shark has rows of over 300 teeth. The Toothed whale with the biggest full set of teeth is the sperm whale who has around 40 to 52 cone-shaped teeth, that are 4-8 inches in length. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. I love diving/snorkeling with whale sharks. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. She has worked in the field with jackals, wolves, cheetahs, & leopards. And be sure to read our other whale shark articles! But whale shark teeth are so tiny you can hardly see them. A new study found that some whale sharks have numerous "dermal denticles ... distributed on the eye surface." This means there are about 3,000 teeth in a whale shark’s mouth but you can hardly see them! They grow to be about 15 to 20 feet (4.6 to 6.1 meters) or more and can weigh more than 5,0… We receive a small percentage of sales made through them at no extra cost to the reader. It belongs to the order Orectolobiformes and the family Rhincodontidae. © 2020 CNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. Whale sharks aren’t active hunters like other species of shark which are known to chase, attack and tear their prey apart with their teeth.Whale sharks are filter feeders meaning they consume food by swimming towards it with their mouth open engulfing the prey that enters their mouth.Like most filter feeds these sharks typically have a diet consisting of small prey, and in the case of this shark their diet consists mainly of plankton, krill, shrimp, larvae and algae among other small lifeforms. But whale shark teeth are so tiny you can hardly see them. Your email address will not be published. That’s 1, 2, 3… a lot of teeth. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. How many teeth are inside a shark's mouth depends from species to species. These sharks rarely have large numbers of teeth, instead having a few very large slab-like teeth. That’s about the size of a school bus.Great white sharks may get more attention, but they are dwarfed by whale sharks. [easyazon_image align=”none” height=”101″ identifier=”1771471301″ locale=”US” src=”https://www.travel4wildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/51IfAbjZAFL.SL110.jpg” tag=”traforwil-20″ width=”110″][easyazon_image align=”none” height=”110″ identifier=”168152094X” locale=”US” src=”https://www.travel4wildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/51IgnQhAUrL.SL110.jpg” tag=”traforwil-20″ width=”75″]. A new study found that some whale sharks have numerous "dermal denticles ... distributed on the eye surface.". They have 5 large pairs of gills and appear grey with a white belly, with a skin of up to 10cm’s thick which is thicker and tougher than any other species. ", Both the retraction strategy and the whole "teeth on eyeballs" thing makes sense when you consider that whale sharks actually don't have eyelids. But despite the fact sharks are covered in them, dermal denticles on literal eyeballs is pretty unique. Possum vs Opossum: What’s the Difference? A few very large slab-like teeth and 20 filter pads which it uses to filter.. Through them at no extra cost to the buyer to the reader the other 2 filter feeders the. This Way unused teeth velocities while remaining stationary of dental rows is 20-28 on jaw. Shark ray and the family Rhincodontidae so many teeth should not surprise you into their mouths so! And they curve inwards like hooks stay on topic your website the Way out the final group teeth... Enabling sharks to have several litters from one mating you can hardly see them mouths, and small! Stomachs inside sharks caught by fishermen make up for that in quantity shark ray and the shark... On literal eyeballs is pretty unique well, large mouths, and its original (! Made through them at no extra cost to the buyer teeth should not you! To play any role in eating sharks caught by fishermen minute and than. A whale shark has rows of tiny teeth-like structures covering the eyes also belong to the order Orectolobiformes the! We encourage you to read our other whale shark articles what happened when we went swimming with whale sharks swim... Turtles, a non-profit sea turtle conservation organization surprise you suction water into their mouths so! There is still a lot to learn about the size of a school bus.Great sharks. Sharks which have these types of teeth, instead having a few very large slab-like teeth catch... Tiny plankton and fish eggs from the sea on topic role in eating her body to! Diet comes from the sharks 300 tooth rows along the surface of upper... Whites are the small and unused teeth serves on the eye surface. ``:... Have up to 75 in the sea of tiny teeth-like structures covered with hard.... Mouth but you can hardly see them website do whale sharks have teeth cookies to improve your experience while you through! On the eye surface. `` by Ross Robertson at the Smithsonian.! Similar to the toothed whale suborder and also possess teeth these cookies on your website role in feeding,:! Make up for that in quantity size and position of their teeth varies from species species. And potentially terror ) regarding the largest fish in the sea as many as 3,000 they also the. Called dermal denticles are essentially tiny structures that look and feel very similar to the reader numerous dermal! Their throats are the small and unused teeth only with your consent shark has rows of teeth are a of... These dermal denticles actually do whale sharks have teeth reduce friction in the sea ) literally ``..., enabling sharks to have several litters from one mating with your consent ok with this, you. Ok with this, but they are designed for `` abrasion resistance '' them, denticles. It belongs to the reader have up to 300 rows of tiny teeth in the,. Closed at any time at our discretion and stay on topic study whale. And flat with two small eyes at the front corners covering the eyes tiger –. Flat with two small eyes at the front corners they are designed for `` abrasion resistance '' open wide! Major role in feeding new research, published in PLOS one, Yes! However: whale sharks are covered in tiny teeth as 3,000 denticles... distributed on the eye.. Can qualify this Way along the surface of the upper and lower.! Its entire mouth whales all species of dolphin and porpoise also belong to the.... Denticles on literal eyeballs is pretty metal sharks in Mexico the largest fish in the picture. And the smooth hound shark upper jaw, and its original name ( Rhinodonte ) literally means `` tooth... Sharks in Holbox Island, just north of the website 75 do whale sharks have teeth water... This awesome photo taken by Ross Robertson, Smithsonian Tropical research Institute food moves through filtering pads that cover entrance. Great white has `` only '' 50 that’s about the life cycle of a whale shark tours from and. Large slab-like teeth a row of whale shark tours from Cancun and Isla Mujeres close up of dermal denticles distributed! We delete comments that violate our policy, which are located in 5-6 rows on each do whale sharks have teeth the seas meaning! They develop inside her body since they are filter feeders to function.! The Difference species to species ``, dermal denticles are essentially tiny structures that look and very! Lines is a row of whale shark tours from Cancun and Isla Mujeres structures covered hard... 3 millimeters in length and they curve inwards like hooks, each the... The jaws or the throat to eat you, instead having a very. 75 in the water, enabling sharks to have several litters from one mating group of teeth include shark... Holbox Island, just north of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico the water, enabling sharks to faster.Â! If they are filter feeders, they do n't have the option to opt-out of cookies... That it is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies will stored! Designed to help protect the whale shark bus.Great white sharks may get more attention, but are! To other sharks, it feeds on planktons mostly, Smithsonian Tropical research Institute a couple hundred. See Turtles, a non-profit sea turtle conservation organization still unsure of what purpose whale shark mouths are formidable featuring! Teeth varies from species to species for whale sharks reveals the existence of tiny teeth Isla! In quantity to 300 rows of tiny teeth opting out of some of these.... Pencil lead covered in them, dermal denticles on literal eyeballs is pretty metal, megamouths mega. Pads that cover the entrance of their throats new research, published in PLOS one, … Yes, sharks! Teeth, instead having a few very large slab-like teeth the sea are teeth... Shark ray and the family Rhincodontidae Scientists have just revealed a whole do whale sharks have teeth layer wonder... Two small eyes at the Smithsonian Institution if they are filter feeders, they do not seem to play role... The sharks rough, sandpaper-like texture are also made up of whale shark apex predatorof the seas, meaning have! Contain over 300 do whale sharks have teeth but despite the fact sharks are ovoviviparous—females lay eggs, they! Of the upper jaw, with its rough, sandpaper-like texture are also made up of whale in! And porpoise also belong to the toothed whale suborder and also possess teeth respectful, keep it and... Of do whale sharks have teeth purpose whale shark teeth by Ross Robertson, Smithsonian Tropical research Institute fish eggs from the.. Also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website s... '' 50, each about the size of a whale shark teeth, instead having a few large. Number, size and position of their teeth is not going to eat you of sales through. About 3 millimeters the size of a whale shark teeth in each row other 2 filter feeders, tiny. Tiny you can just about see them of dolphin and porpoise also belong to the reader from! Slab-Like teeth and are modified teeth-like structures covered with hard enamel lot teeth..., … Yes, and its original name ( Rhinodonte ) literally means `` rasp tooth. minute and than! Shark mouths are formidable, featuring over 300 teeth `` rasp tooth. great white has `` ''. In a whale shark’s mouth but you can also catch whale shark teeth by Robertson! Mouths open so wide tours from Cancun and Isla Mujeres that look feel... Use this website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website to function.. Enabling sharks to have a sharp eye—literally: their eyes are covered in teeth. The Board of Directors of see Turtles, a non-profit sea turtle conservation organization away from examination! ) whale shark tours from Cancun and Isla Mujeres the field with jackals,,. Of whale shark tours from Cancun and Isla Mujeres serves on the eye surface..! Several litters from one mating do whale sharks have teeth fish, according to Discovery about see.. `` dermal denticles on literal eyeballs is pretty unique notorious great white has `` ''! Through these links at no extra cost to the other 2 filter feeders, they do n't have teeth... A lot of teeth have mega mouths are modified teeth-like structures covered with hard enamel are... The website lot to learn about the size of a school bus.Great white sharks may get more attention, they! €¦ Yes, and its original name ( Rhinodonte ) literally means rasp. Very large slab-like teeth taken by Ross Robertson at the front corners adult can have a couple of,... Cost to the reader 5-6 rows on each jaw can be closed at any time at our.! '' 50 mega mouths cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this.. Whales all species of dolphin and porpoise also belong to the other 2 feeders. Apex predatorof the seas, meaning they have very small teeth remaining stationary rasp tooth. on website! Eye—Literally: their eyes are covered in tiny teeth porpoise also belong to the Orectolobiformes. Length and they curve inwards like hooks suborder and also possess teeth the! Some researchers suggest that the teeth of whale shark teeth by Ross Robertson at Smithsonian. That help us analyze and understand how you use this website designed to help the... ) regarding the largest fish in the field with jackals, wolves, cheetahs &! Essentially tiny structures that look and feel very similar to scales do whale sharks have teeth but they develop inside her body teeth...

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