Swimming sharks are one of the most mysterious marine life in the ocean. It is the second largest fish in the world after the whale shark. Although related to the great white shark and having a predatory appearance, it is a gentle mackerel shark that survives on planktonic life. Let’s take a look at what giant sharks eat and how they feed.
How does a giant shark hunt?
Rowing sharks are one of three types of filter sharks. Unlike the other two filter-eating shark species, the giant shark cannot suck water through its mouth and must feed passively. They float through the water, opening their large mouth, 3 feet (0.9 meters) long, to collect plankton into long gill stamens, occasionally closing them to swallow and filter out plankton.
Giant sharks migrate and feed when traveling long distances. They can often be seen near the surface of the water, moving slowly at around 2.3 miles per hour (4 km / h). While they may appear to bask in the sun, they feed on dense foci of plankton near the surface of the water. Their gaping mouths filter water through their gills, and small plankton are captured by gill stamens, long and comb-like.
Rowing sharks feed on water with dense pockets of plankton and form large groups of up to 100 people. Although their large-mouthed looks intimidating, they only eat small plankton and try their best to avoid large objects.
What do swimming sharks eat?
Plankton is the giant shark’s main food source, but what is it? Plankton is classified as a marine drifter and is an organism that cannot swim, carried by the tide. There are two main types of plankton; phytoplankton and zooplankton. The preferred food of the giant shark is zooplankton, especially copepods.
Copepods are small, microscopic crustaceans. Below you can see an enlarged image of what copepods look like under a microscope. Enjoy how many of these giant sharks you need to eat in order to stick to your regular diet every day!
Rowing sharks look for copepods, but other zooplankton can also be consumed, for example:
Every year in winter, giant sharks shed their gill stamens. Hibernation or diet changes are some theories about what happens until they grow back in the spring.
How much do splashing sharks eat?
Huge giant sharks must eat large amounts of plankton in order to survive. Their gills filter over 2,000 tons of water per hour. Because plankton are so small, they must eat millions every day, which can amount to hundreds of pounds.