Massive whale shark joins OCEARCH as newest tagged shark off the coast of Mexico
One of the world's largest shark species, a whale shark, is the latest to be tracked by ocean research nonprofit OCEARCH, in the Atlantic.
Theresa, a 27-foot, 11-inch whale shark, was tagged in early August in the Yucatán Channel, off the coast of Mexico.
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She was tagged through a collaboration between OCEARCH, the Katie Adamson Conservation Fund (KACF) and Ch’ooj Ajauil AC, OCEARCH said.
Dave Johnson, co-founder and executive director of the KACF, donated the tag on behalf of his mother, who passed away last year, and asked to donate the funds for conservation.
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Theresa was named in honor of Johnson's mother.
The whale shark is an adult, and one of at least 10 whale sharks tracked by OCEARCH in the past.
They're easily identified by their size, as well as their distinct head and mouth shape, which resembles that of a fish instead of other shark species.
Whale sharks have flat, dark-colored bodies with light-colored stripes and spots throughout.
They feed on plankton and other small creatures as filter feeders.
These giant creatures are not only the largest shark species on Earth today, but also the largest fish.
Theresa's most recent movement was on Sept. 5, in the Gulf of America.
OCEARCH is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to researching and protecting sharks, whales, sea turtles and other ocean life, tagging these animals to track and study their migration habits and behaviors from afar.
Keep up with Theresa and more than 400 other sharks, turtles and other ocean animals with the free OCEARCH global shark tracker app.
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