(2020/7/3)

We are proud to announce that joint research by the Okinawa Churashima Foundation, which manages Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, in collaboration with researchers from OIST and the Georgia Aquarium has revealed the methods with which whale sharks protect their eyes.

The results of the joint research have revealed
1.The white of a whale shark’s eye is covered with scales.
2.The whale shark can retract and hide its eyes.
The scales on the eyes are shaped differently to the scales on the surface of the whale shark’s body. This specialization is thought to protect the whale shark’s eyes.
 

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  1.Micro CT scan of the scales that protect the eyes.

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  2-1The whale shark’s eye (Normally)

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  2-2The whale shark’s eye (When retracted)

≪Whale Shark≫

Scientific name：Rhincodon typus
 

The world’s largest species of fish.Two whale sharks live in the Kuroshiro Sea tank at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium (a male and a female). Jinta, the male, has the world record for the longest captive-reared whale shark (25 years).

This discovery was achieved through long-term rearing and observation at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.
Our aim is to contribute to the development of rearing knowledge and to further reveal the ecology of whale sharks.


Journal publishing article： PLOS ONE 　　
Title： Armored eyes of the whale shark
Authors：Taketeru Tomita1、Kiyomi Murakumo1、Shinya Komoto2、Alistair Dove3、Masakatsu Kino1、
                Kei Miyamoto1、Minoru Toda1
　　　  （1 Okinawa Churashima Foundation、2 OIST、3 Georgia Aquarium）