How long does a whale shark last?
Typical lifespan
60–130 yr
The largest fish alive, a filter feeder that strains plankton and poses no danger to swimmers.
How that compares
Whale shark against things of a similar time.
Blue whale 70–90 yr
Whale shark 60–130 yr
Great white shark 50–73 yr
Saltwater crocodile 65–100 yr
African elephant 50–70 yr
Asian elephant 48–70 yr
Sperm whale 60–70 yr
Japanese spider crab 50–100 yr
What that means over time
| Period | How many you would buy |
|---|---|
| Per year | 0.0143 replacements |
| Over 10 years | 1 of them |
| Over a 30-year mortgage | 1 of them |
Lifespans are medians under ordinary use, not guarantees. Maintenance, how hard it is used, and build quality move individual examples a long way in both directions — which is why the range above is as wide as it is.
More about a whale shark
- How much does a whale shark weigh? 9,000–21,000 kg
- Whale shark vs Humpback whale Side by side
- Whale shark vs Sperm whale Side by side
- Whale shark vs Lion's mane jellyfish Side by side
Common questions
- How long does a whale shark last?
- A whale shark lasts 60–130 yr.
Related pages
- How much does a whale shark weigh? 9,000–21,000 kg
- How long does a blue whale last? 70–90 yr
- How long does a great white shark last? 50–73 yr
- How long does a orca last? 30–90 yr
- How long does a bottlenose dolphin last? 30–60 yr
- How long does a humpback whale last? 45–100 yr
- How long does a sperm whale last? 60–70 yr
- How long does a tiger shark last? 20–50 yr
- How long does a walrus last? 30–40 yr
- How long does a emperor penguin last? 15–50 yr
- How long does a giant Pacific octopus last? 3–5 yr
- Whale shark vs Humpback whale Side by side
- Whale shark vs Sperm whale Side by side
- Whale shark vs Lion's mane jellyfish Side by side
Sources
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — NOAA (Public domain (US Government))