Whale Shark: The World's Largest Fish - Size & Facts

The largest fish in the world is the whale shark, Rhincodon typus. It is a filter-feeding carpet shark and the largest known living non-mammalian vertebrate. Whale sharks reach an average length of 18–32 feet (5.5–9.7 meters), although the largest individuals may grow up to 40–45 feet (12–13.7 meters) in length. The whale shark is found in warm waters around the world, and its diet consists mainly of plankton and small fish.