What structures inside the whale shark's mouth strain plankton from the water during feeding?
Answer
Dermal denticles or gill rakers
The highly efficient, low-risk feeding strategy employed by the whale shark relies on specialized anatomy within its massive mouth. These structures, referred to as dermal denticles or gill rakers, function as a sieve. They are composed of modified dermal denticles that effectively strain minute prey items, such as plankton, small crustaceans, and larval fishes, from the vast quantities of water that pass over the gills as the shark swims. This filtering mechanism is exceptionally efficient, allowing the massive fish to meet its high caloric demands without needing to actively pursue large, high-energy prey.
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