* Mouth and Gill Structure: Whale sharks have enormous mouths and gill rakers, which are comb-like structures that act like strainers. These structures filter out the plankton from the water as the whale shark swims with its mouth open.
* Plankton Abundance: Plankton, which includes tiny organisms like copepods, krill, and algae, are abundant in the ocean waters where whale sharks live. This makes plankton a readily available and plentiful food source.
* Low Energy Requirements: Plankton is a low-energy food source, meaning that whale sharks don't need to expend a lot of energy to catch and digest it. This allows them to grow to enormous sizes.
* Migration Patterns: Whale sharks often migrate to areas where plankton blooms occur, ensuring access to a plentiful food source.
In essence, whale sharks are built for filter-feeding plankton, and their physiology and behavior have evolved to take advantage of this abundant food source.