Burke County, NC
This month, I thought it would be awesome to talk about the largest fish in the world. This fish is also the third-largest animal in the ocean. It is longer than a school bus, reaching as much as 60 ft. long. The largest one recorded was found in the Western Indian Ocean, measuring 61.7 feet long. An adult weighs more than 20 tons, which is about the same weight as 3 African bull elephants. Any clue which fish I am talking about?
The amazing Whale Shark! This is one fish I would love to swim beside! The whale shark, despite its astonishing size, is not aggressive. It is known as a “gentle giant” and is friendly towards humans.
This shark is a filter feeder, like most whales. It is also a carnivore, feeding on small fish, like anchovies, small crustaceans, plankton, and sometimes tiny squid.
The whale shark’s mouth is huge, almost five feet across. Inside this massive mouth, there are 300 rows of tiny teeth the size of pencil lead. There are 3000 teeth total. The whale shark does not use its teeth to chew up food. Instead, it swallows its food whole.
Even though this fish has a mouth almost as wide as I am tall, it has a super small throat, about the size of a quarter. So there is no threat of getting swallowed by this fish!
Along the sides of this fish’s throat are 20 pad-like structures that have tiny holes in them, which are used as a filtration system. The shark uses its mouth as a suction device; it swallows tons of water and tiny food. It then pushes the water through its five layers of gills, and the food goes down the quarter-sized throat to its belly. The whale shark spends 8 hours a day just eating to get enough food to survive. It also has to travel around 5000 miles a year to find enough food in the ocean.
Scientists have witnessed these sharks standing straight up, like it is walking in the middle of the ocean, just gulping massive amounts of food when it finds a mother lode.
They have also been seen at certain times of the year hunting with other predatory fish when food is plentiful. The rest of the year, they swim and eat alone.
Speaking of teeth, their mouth is not the only place teeth can be found on their bodies. They also have teeth covering their eyes! Scientists have found up to 3000 teeth covering the whale shark’s iris. The whale shark is the only vertebrate that has this unique feature. It is called dermal denticles. Their 5-inch-thick, rubbery skin is also covered with dermal denticles.
The life expectancy of the whale shark is up to 100 years old. They are thirty years old before they reproduce. Whale sharks are ovoviviparous, which means they are egg producers. The eggs they create, however, hatch inside of them, and then they give birth to live babies. Three hundred of them at a time, to be exact.
All sharks, including the whale sharks, are cartilaginous, meaning their skeletons are made of cartilage instead of bones. Cartilage weighs considerably less than bones and is flexible and strong, which helps sharks swim fast and use less energy. However, whale sharks normally only swim 3mph except when they are alarmed. They can then move faster for short bursts.
We also have cartilage in our bodies. Do you know where?
These amazing fish can dive down more than a kilometer deep, but normally they are found closer to shore.
Just like God made each one of us unique, complete with our own fingerprints, whale sharks have their own unique stripes and spot patterns. No two whale sharks look alike.
Isn’t it awesome that God cared so much about us that he took the time to make each one of us unique instead of making us look and act all the same way? The world would be boring if we were all the same.
Whale sharks are like the Goliath in the fish world, being the largest fish. Even though they are not aggressive or mean, they are still a giant to the tiny animals they snack on.
Do you have a Goliath in your life? Is there someone who is mean or bullies you? Your Goliath may not even be a person. May it be something you struggle against or something you have a hard time overcoming? You might be like me, and your Goliath might even be struggling with your own self-esteem. In fact, I have several Goliaths; most people do. The question is, how are you going to defeat them?
I have to take the time to tell you how my husband has recently defeated his Goliath. My husband, Don, was very young when he started dipping tobacco. He got addicted to it at an early age. We have prayed for him to be able to quit for many years, but it kept conquering him. Guess what? After over 40 years, he has been able to throw that Goliath to the curb. It has only been with God’s help. On April 8th, it will be 3 months since he has been tobacco-free, and he is down to just 3mg nicotine pouches! God is so good! I tell you this to say that you can conquer anything with God’s help, anything. It may take a long time, but don’t get impatient and give up, and think that God isn’t going to help you defeat your Goliath, because that is simply not true. We must remember that everything happens in God’s perfect timing. He knows what is best, and we just have to trust Him. My husband quitting tobacco has been my longest-running prayer request. We have been together for a total of 33 years this year, so it has taken 33 years for my prayer to be answered, but God is able and can answer every prayer request, in His own timing, so don’t give up! Go out and slay your Goliath!
Dear Lord, every one of us has one or more Goliaths in our lives. I pray you will help us be like David and defeat every one of them. It is only possible with you by our side. Help us not get discouraged or give up. Help us believe that we can defeat them with you by our side! Amen
45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands.” 1Samuel 17:45-47 NKJ
Bibliography
https://www.barrierreef.org/news/news/five-fascinating-facts-about-whale-sharks
https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/resource-center/stories/celebrating-international-whale-shark-day-with-fun-facts/
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/facts/whale-sharks
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Christy Lowman is a Christian author and illustrator that lives in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with her husband and two children. She enjoys writing and illustrating books for all ages. Some of her short stories are published with Guideposts and HCI. Christy gives all the glory to God in everything she does. A portion of every book sold from the Small Bible Character Series will be donated to battle human trafficking. If you enjoy her books, “like’ her author page on Facebook and let her know! You can buy her books at //www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AChristy+Lowman&s=relevancerank&text=Christy+Lowman&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1. You can reach her at //www.facebook.com/authorChristyLowman/
You can read more Christian news from Christy here.
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