The Rhincodontidae family has only one species, the Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus). It is the largest living fish in the world.

Whale sharks can grow longer than 40 feet (12.2 meters). They have broad, flattened heads and rounded snouts. Their huge mouths are located at the front of their heads. They have five pairs of gill openings, two dorsal fins, and large, wing-like pectoral fins. Their dark gray or brown bodies are covered with distinctive yellowish or white spots and stripes.

Whale sharks live in tropical and warm-temperate waters worldwide, including coastal and open-ocean areas. They feed by filtering food from the water. Their diet includes plankton, small fish, and tiny crustaceans such as krill.