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Whale shark with mouth wide open
Whale shark with mouth wide open

Whale shark with mouth wide open

Photographer (born 1935)
Date1953-2000
Object numberANMS1457[882]
NamePhotographic slide
MediumColour transparency film, paper
DimensionsOverall (Inc carrier): 50 × 50 mm
Copyright© Valerie Taylor
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Valerie Taylor in memory of Ron Taylor
DescriptionWhale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are a species of carpet shark from the order Orectolobiformes, which also contains wobbegongs and leopard sharks. Despite being the largest known living fish species, capable of growing over 16m long, they feed on zooplankton – tiny animals that float in the water. Whale sharks are found across the tropical oceans of the world, but due to various threats such as fishing, pollution, and climate change, they have been listed as endangered by the IUCN since 2016.SignificanceIn 1997 Valerie won the American Nature photographer of the Year for her photograph of a whale shark swimming with her nephew in Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia. There is a lot that goes into creating an award-winning photograph: the right equipment, lighting, composition, perspective, scale and capturing the moment. This archive features an impressive series of photographs of the moments before and after the award-winning shot.