Species FAO code: RHN

Rhincodon typus

This species is endangered. To ensure its protection and conservation, specific rules apply to its trade and marketing in the European Union (Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora).

Page contents

Commercial designations
Production methods and fishing gears
Species distribution and habitat
Species description

Commercial designations

Country	Commercial designations	Names accepted or permitted locally or regionally
Czech Republic	cs Žralok	–
Slovakia	sk veľžralok bodkovaný	–

Main production methods

Caught

Main fishing gears

Source: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. FishBase. Rhincodon typus Smith, 1828

Habitat

Saltwater

FAO major fishing areas

Source: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. FishBase. Rhincodon typus Smith, 1828

Distribution maps

Source: Aquamaps - Computer Generated Native Distribution Map for Rhincodon typus

Source: FAO - FAO aquatic species distribution map of Rhincodon typus

Scientific name

Rhincodon typus

Author

Smith, 1828

Rank

Species

FAO code

RHN

Morphological description

A huge, blunt-headed shark with a terminal mouth and a prominent checkerboard pattern of light spots, horizontal and vertical stripes on a dark background (Ref. 247, 5578). Caudal fin crescentic, with a strong lower lobe but no subterminal notch (Ref. 13575). It has small, scale-like teeth and feeds by filtering plankton with special sieve-like modifications of the gill bars (Ref. 26938).

Taxonomic classification

ClassElasmobranchii
- OrderOrectolobiformes
  - FamilyRhincodontidae
    - GenusRhincodon
      - SpeciesRhincodon typus

Synonyms

Rhineodon typus Smith, 1828
Rhiniodon typus (Smith, 1828)
Rhinodon typicus Müller & Henle, 1839
Rhinodon typicus Smith, 1845
Rhicodon typus Smith, 1828
Micristodus punctatus Gill, 1865
Rhinodon pentalineatus Kishinouye, 1901

Source: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. FishBase. Rhincodon typus Smith, 1828

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Rhincodon typus

Commercial designations

Main production methods

Main fishing gears

Gillnets and similar nets

Trawls

Habitat

FAO major fishing areas

Area 21 - Atlantic, Northwest

Area 27 - Atlantic, Northeast

Area 31 - Atlantic, Western Central

Area 34 - Atlantic, Eastern Central

Area 41 - Atlantic, Southwest

Area 47 - Atlantic, Southeast

Area 51 - Indian Ocean, Western

Area 57 - Indian Ocean, Eastern

Area 61 - Pacific, Northwest

Area 71 - Pacific, Western Central

Area 77 - Pacific, Eastern Central

Area 87 - Pacific, Southeast

Distribution maps