What is the common name associated with Order Orectolobiformes, which includes the whale shark?
Answer
Carpet sharks
The whale shark, despite its massive size and pelagic lifestyle, is formally placed within Order Orectolobiformes. This biological grouping is commonly referred to by the name 'carpet sharks.' This affiliation can often be surprising to observers because the majority of species within Orectolobiformes exhibit benthic habits, meaning they spend their lives living near or resting on the seafloor. Examples of these benthic relatives include species like nurse sharks and wobbegongs. The whale shark's status as the sole species in this order that lives actively in the open ocean, or pelagically, represents a significant divergence from the typical lifestyle found among its closest relatives in the carpet shark grouping.
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