Stranding of a filter-feeding giant: a case report of Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) in the Southwestern Equatorial Atlantic

Abstract The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest fish in the world and occurs predominantly in tropical and subtropical waters. In Brazil, the species has a wide distribution, but data on its biology and ecology remain scarce. This study reports the first confirmed stranding of an adult whale shark on the coast of Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil. The animal, an 11.5-m-long male, stranded alive in August 2014. Despite rescue efforts, it died naturally, with no evidence of anthropogenic impacts. Necropsy findings confirmed natural death due to multiple organ failure. This case study helps to fill existing knowledge gaps regarding the specie´s biology and ecology in Brazil, highlighting the need for long-term monitoring and research to support whale shark conservation, as well as the importance of strandings records as a management tool for these populations.