Whale shark Coloring Pages

The Big and Gentle Giant of the Sea! Whale shark!

Whale shark is the biggest fish in the whole world! They are 5 to 10 meters long, and the longest one is as long as 18 meters. That is as long as many buses lined up together. They weigh about 20 tons, which is as heavy as 3 elephants!

When you hear "shark," you might think of sharp teeth biting hard. But Whale shark is a very gentle shark. Their mouths are big, but they eat tiny plankton and small fish. They never attack humans. Sometimes people call them "Giants of the Sea."

Why are they called Whale shark?

Whale shark has many white spots on its body. In Japanese, their name comes from an old kimono pattern that looks just like these spots. In English, they are called "Whale shark" because they are super big and eat plankton just like whales do.

Where do they live?

Whale shark lives in big areas of warm seas. In Japan, you can sometimes see them near Okinawa, the Ogasawara Islands, and Amami Oshima. Around the world, people find them in the Philippines, Mexico, the Maldives, and Australia too. They often swim near the top of the sea where there is lots of plankton to eat.

What do they eat?

Whale shark eats tiny plankton, small fish, fish eggs, and seaweed. They open their big mouths wide and suck in food along with lots of seawater. Inside their mouth, they have filters that look like sponges. These filters push only the seawater out and keep the food inside their body. When they eat, they sometimes swim straight up and down. It looks super cool!

What about Whale shark babies?

Whale shark babies hatch from eggs inside their mom's belly. They grow to a good size before they come out into the sea. When they are just born, babies are about 60 cm long. They do not swim with their mom after they are born, but they find their own food and grow big all by themselves.

How long do they live?

Whale shark lives for a very long time. People say they live longer than 100 years on average. Some people think a Whale shark even lived to be 130 years old! It is amazing that they live longer than humans.

How to choose your colors

The Whale shark lives in the blue sea, so it is a great idea to pick sea blues and colors that go well with them!

• Basic body colors: A bluish gray or a darker blue is close to a real Whale shark's color. Some Whale sharks are brownish gray, too.
• Belly color: Make the belly a bit lighter than the body (like white or light gray) to give it a 3D look.
• White spots: This is the Whale shark's best feature, so try coloring them neatly in white! Each spot has a different shape, so look closely as you color.
• Eyes: If you color the eyes black or dark gray, they will look big and round!
• Inside the mouth: Color the inside of the mouth pink or red to make it look alive!

Color the patterns carefully!

Your Whale shark picture should have its special white spots. Coloring these spots one by one carefully is the secret to making it look just like a real Whale shark!

• Spots: Try to color the white parts gently so you do not go outside the lines.
• Body lines: If you color around the body lines with a slightly darker color, the pattern will stand out and look even more like a Whale shark!

How to make it look 3D: Think about "shadows" and "light"!

Remember that the Whale shark has a big, round body! Try making the shadow parts a little darker, and the light parts a little brighter.

• Shadow areas: Shadows are often under the belly, at the base of the fins, and deep inside the mouth. Try using a color that is a bit darker than the body here.
• Light areas: Places like the back and sides get lots of light. If you leave them a bit brighter or color them with a light color, your picture will look more 3D!

Let's color the sea background, too!

• In the water: Mix in light blue, sky blue, and a little green to show the sparkle and depth of the water. You can even add some bubbles!
• Bubbles and light: Use a white crayon or colored pencil to draw tiny bubbles around your Whale shark, or draw lines of light shining down. It will make your picture look full of life!
• Sea creatures nearby: Color them with bright, fun colors to show how busy and exciting the sea is!

Tips for enjoying your coloring page!

You can color your Whale shark coloring page any way you like! For example, it is super fun to make rainbow spots or give it a shiny, sparkly body! Try making your very own special Whale shark!