How do researchers use the unique coat pattern of *Rhincodon typus* for population studies?

Answer

It functions like human fingerprints for photo-identification databases

The external appearance of the whale shark provides a critical tool for ongoing scientific research and population monitoring. Every individual *Rhincodon typus* possesses a distinct and unique arrangement of pale spots and stripes contrasted against its darker body color. This specific pattern configuration is so individualized that researchers leverage it as a reliable method for distinguishing one shark from another, analogous to how human fingerprints are used for identification. Organizations dedicated to the study of these animals maintain photo-identification databases reliant on these markings to track individuals, monitor their health, and map their migratory paths globally.

How do researchers use the unique coat pattern of *Rhincodon typus* for population studies?

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taxonomyspeciesanimalclassificationwhale shark