1. The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is also called the gentle giant because it is the largest fish ever discovered.
2. The whale shark is the world's largest living non-mammalian vertebrate, reaching up to 60 feet (18 m) in length.
3. Whale sharks are filter feeders, eating mainly phytoplankton, small fish, and other microbes.
4. Whale sharks have a special identity, their body is dark brown or blue in color, and there is a specific pattern of light yellow spots and stripes on it.
5. These patterns are believed to be as unique as fingerprints, and help researchers identify and track a whale shark.
6. Whale sharks prefer to live in warm waters and are mostly seen in tropical and sub-tropical oceans around the world.
7. Whale sharks are known to have both solitary and social behaviour, and can weigh up to 40 tonnes (36 metric tons).
8. Whale sharks have a slow reproductive rate, with females having a gestation period of up to 16 months, after which they give birth to a small number of pups.
9. Whale sharks are listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), despite their size and global distribution.
10. Whale sharks are facing threats such as habitat loss, entanglement in fishing gear and boat collisions.