RHINOCODON TYPUS

Rhincodon typus

Phylum: Chordata

Class : Chondrichthyes

Subclass : Elasmobranchii

Order Orectolobiformes

Family : Rhiniodontidae (Whaleshark)

Genera : Rhincodon

Species : typus

Key Character for family Orectolo biformes

  • Headand body depressed
  • Mouth terminal
  • Spiracle large
  • Enlarged fang like teeth

KeyCharacter for family Rhincodontidae

  • Largestspecies
  • Head very broad and flattened
  • Mouth huge and nearly terminal;
  • external gill slits very large,internal gill slits inside
  • mouth cavity with filter screens;
  • caudal peduncle with strong lateral keels;
  • caudal fin with a strong ventral lobe, but without a strong terminal lobe and subterminal notch
  • Eyes behind mouth; deep nasoral grooves connecting nostrils and mouth
  • Body hump backed appearance

Keycharacter for Rhincodon typus:

As like the familycharacter. Only one species is availableunder this family.

`It is an endangered species listedin the schedule 1 of Wild life protection act (1972).
Last modified: Monday, 23 January 2012, 4:48 AM