What is the whale shark life cycle?

Whale sharks breed by internal insemination of a female by a male. The young are born alive and take about 30 years to reach sexual maturity. Whale sharks are believed to live 70 to 100 years.

The whale shark is the largest living fish and can reach up to 41.5 feet long. It is a filter feeder than lives on plankton, schooling fish, krill and squid. It is nonaggressive and has demonstrated an ability to investigate its environment and learn. Blue marlin, blue sharks and killer whales prey on juvenile whale sharks. Adults are protected by their size and their very tough skins.