The Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) is a very large cartilaginous fish. It is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon and Zoo Tycoon 2.
Description[]
Reaching lengths of up to 18.8m (62ft) long, the whale shark is the largest living species of fish and the largest non-cetacean marine animal. Females are larger than males. Its incredibly large jaws are located at the front of its head, unlike most other sharks, and its dark grey skin is covered in white spots and stripes, which are unique to each individual.
The whale shark is found in tropical waters worldwide, mostly in open ocean. Despite its large size, it is a filter feeder, eating zooplankton and tiny fish, as well as eggs laid by fish and crabs. Special filter-pads, which are believed to be modified gill-rakers, capture food whilst water is passed out of its gills. The whale shark is harmless to humans, and young individuals have been observed playing with divers.
Zoo Tycoon[]
The whale shark is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon. It is a downloadable animal that was included as part of the Endangered Species Theme Pack and is classed as a Marine Mania animal.
The whale shark is a fully Aquatic animal that requires a deep tank of at least 6 units. Its favorite foliage is Sea Grass and it requires a good amount of foliage and rocks in its exhibit. The whale shark's habitat suitability can be maxed out by using small rocks in a 4x4 grid for some of the rock requirement.
The whale shark is a filter feeder and feeds on krill just like the Manta Ray and requires no shelters. Interestingly, the whale shark's animal density is very low, the player able to have up to three whale sharks in a 10x10 enclosure at a depth of 6 units. The whale shark's maximum social group size is three, however whale sharks will give birth to two pups at a time, meaning that the player will need to either sell one of the animals or divide them into different enclosures.
Zoo Tycoon 2[]
The whale shark is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon 2 and was added as part of the Marine Mania expansion pack. In Campaign and Challenge mode, it is obtainable when a zoo reaches a rating of 4 and a half stars.
Unlike other animals, the whale shark is adopted as an adolescent and will grow to its full size after being exhibited for about 2 years. This trait was later also given to Deinosuchus though through a different coding method.
The whale shark primarily lives in the benthic biome, though it can somewhat tolerate the reef and pelagic biomes. Like the Manta Ray, the whale shark exclusively eats Zooplankton and uses the Clam Bubbler as enrichment, helping the animal satisfy its hygiene need. They are also capable of using the Treasure Chest in the same way as the Clam Bubbler. Unlike other sharks in the game, the whale shark cannot use the Pirate Ship or Pirate Mast as enrichment.
 zootycoon.com Description
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| The whale shark is the largest fish in the world. It can grow to be 15 m (50 ft) long. A slow-swimming gentle giant, this shark is harmless to humans. It has a dark gray upper body that’s marked with pale yellow spots and vertical stripes. The whale shark has a huge mouth that holds up to three thousand tiny teeth, which it never uses. It feeds by sucking ocean water into its mouth, and then forcing the water through its gill rakers to strain out plankton and tiny fish. Whale sharks are found in tropical and warm ocean waters and tend to lead a solitary life. Interestingly, whale sharks cannot reproduce until 30 years of age. |
Gallery[]
Zoo Tycoon[]
Zoo Tycoon 2[]
Trivia[]
- The whale shark is the largest animal in Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania, although the whale shark from the original Zoo Tycoon was surpassed in size by the Humpback Whale, Sperm Whale, and Bowhead Whale.
- In Zoo Tycoon 2, the whale shark prefers the benthic biome, which is unusual as, unlike many of their relatives, whale sharks are a pelagic animal.
- The whale shark is one of only two animals in Zoo Tycoon 2 that have three different sizes (young, adult, and old), the other being Deinosuchus.
- The whale shark's old life stage is coded in the same way as the adult and young life stages, whereas the Deinosuchus' old life stage is coded similarly to how super animals are coded.
- The whale shark is tied with the Orca for the deepest tank requirement in Zoo Tycoon 2, at a depth of 6 units.
- The whale shark's tank depth requirement is the same between both games.