Endangered· population decreasing· assessed 2025

Whale shark

Rhincodon typus

Sighting evidence at The Shelf, Gladden Spit

Photo: Rafael de la Parra · CC BY-NC

Whale sharks appear at Gladden Spit during the March-to-June full moons specifically to feed on the clouds of fish spawn released by aggregating snapper. They are filter feeders, engulfing the fertilised eggs with wide-open mouths at the surface and mid-water. Individuals are identified by their unique spot patterns and several have been photo-ID matched across the Caribbean. This site is considered one of the most reliable land-based whale shark encounters in the western hemisphere.

Evidence at this site

0 records within 25 km

Confidence: low

No date on file

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.

Whale shark

Evidence at this site

Also seen at other sites