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Duncan Murrell - A Whale of a Time

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Duncan Murrell - A Whale of a Time

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69 images Created 7 Apr 2018

Whale Sharks - Honda Bay - 2016/17

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  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_7889.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines. This is a perfect identification photo of the arrangement of the spots on the left side of the head behind the gill slits. To work with the computer software for a positive identification to add to the international database of whale sharks it needs to be perpendicular.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_7896.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_7917.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines. Ventral view showing the claspers identifying it as a male. I was taking sex ID photos for the LAMAVE (Large Marine Vertebrates) Research Institute
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_7897.jpg
  • Tail of whale shark (Rhincodon typus) swimming beneath the outrigger of banca boat, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_8145.jpg
  • Whale shark with a small shoal of tiny blue fish swimming in the slipstream of a whale shark, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines, Sulu Sea. There are several species of fish that often accompany whale sharks either for food, protection or to avoid being eaten by the whale shark. This was one of the most unusual shoals of passengers that I have seen as they swam close to the caudal peduncle in tandem with the sweeping motion of the whale shark's large tail.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_8356-2 copy.jpg
  • Remora (Remora remora) attached to the head of a whale shark (Rhincodon typus), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_9431.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_8443.jpg
  • Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) passing in Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_2194.jpg
  • Two whale sharks (Rhincodon typus), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_3081.jpg
  • Two whale sharks (Rhincodon typus), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_3103.jpg
  • Two whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) passing with a spinetail devil ray near the mouth of the one on the left. Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_3117.jpg
  • Two whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) passing, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_3120.jpg
  • Pectoral fin of whale shark (Rhincodon typus) with rainbow runner (Elagatis bipinnulata), live sharksucker (Echeneis naucrates) and a shoal of red fish prey, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_7769.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), evading predation, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_7787.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) evading predation, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_7808.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) with potential prey, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_8159.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) with shoal of red fish evading predation, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_8165.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) with shoal of red fish evading predation, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_8168.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) with shoal of red fish evading predation, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_8201.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) with shoal of red fish evading predation, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_8217.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) with shoal of red fish evading predation, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_8219.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) with shoal of red fish evading predation, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_8220.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) with shoal of red fish evading predation, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_8223.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) feeding on shoal of red fish trapped on the surface with skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_8253.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) feeding on shoal of red fish trapped on the surface with skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_8254.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) feeding on shoal of red fish trapped on the surface, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_8255.jpg
  • Whale shark with skipjack tuna and unknown shoal of small fish, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines, Sulu Sea. On a few occassions I have seen shoals of these small red fish swimming around or behind a whale shark, and it became apparent that they are a potential prey species and are only remaining near the whale shark because it's the safest place to be. On this occasion they were hiding beneath our boat while the frustrated whale shark circled around us, and then when they tried to escape this happened and eventually the whale shark trapped some on the surface and sucked them into its cavernous mouth. They also had to contend with a shoal of predatory skipjack tuna, which often feed in association with the whale sharks in Honda Bay. When the whale shark eventually departed the shoal followed behind it in the shape of a large fish as big as the whale shark!
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_8265.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) followed by shoal of red fish evading capture, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_8306.jpg
  • This large shoal of small red fish was hiding beneath our boat for a long time to avoid a frustrated whale shark that was circling our boat. When they eventually broke away the whale shark trapped some on the surface and sucked them into its cavernous mouth. Not long after taking this photo the whale shark swam away with the shoal of fish tailing it in the shape of a fish as large as the whale shark. It was indeed an odd spectacle. Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawanDMurrellBW1.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) followed by shoal of red fish evading capture, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_8311.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) followed by shoal of red fish evading capture, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_8362.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) with golden trevally (Gnathanodon specious), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_8396.jpg
  • Two whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) passing, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_8437.jpg
  • Juvenile whale shark (Rhincodon typus) with golden trevally (Gnathanodon specious) and a common remora (Remora remora) attached, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines, Sulu Sea. This small juvenile whale shark came from behind me without any warning and we both had to make a quick evasive manouvre. These are two of the commonest species of fish associated with the whale sharks in Honda Bay. The young golden trevallys can often be seen swimming around the mouth of a whale shark, presumably for protection from other predators.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_1827.jpg
  • Juvenile whale shark (Rhincodon typus) with golden trevally (Gnathanodon speciosus) and a common remora (Remora remora) attached to it, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines, Sulu Sea. This small juvenile whale shark came from behind me without any warning and we both had to make a quick evasive manouvre. These are two of the commonest species of fish associated with the whale sharks in Honda Bay. The young golden trevallys can often be seen swimming around the mouth of a whale shark, presumably for protection from other predators.
    whale-shark-palawan1829.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), approaching a banca boat, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines, Sulu Sea
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_3364.jpg
  • Whale shark, Rhincodon typus, with injury possibly from a boat's propellor, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines, Sulu Sea
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_4307.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), with injury possibly from a boat's propellor, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines, Sulu Sea
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_4346.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), with injury possibly from a boat's propellor, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines, Sulu Sea
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_4349.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) with injury, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_4354.jpg
  • Whale shark, Rhincodon typus, swimming past a clump of seaweed sheltering a shoal of small fish, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines, Sulu Sea
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_4685.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) swimming past a clump of seaweed, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_4689.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), vertical suction feeding on plankton, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines, Sulu Sea
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_4782.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_4791.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) approaching a banca boat, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines, Sulu Sea
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_5141.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), with surface reflection and a shoal of rainbow runner, (Elagatis bipinnulata), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines, Sulu Sea
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_8940.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), with surface reflection and rainbow runner (Elagatis bipinnulata), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines, Sulu Sea
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_8946.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) with surface reflection, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_8949.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) swimming past a jellyfish (Thysanostoma loriferum), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_9461.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), swimming past a  jellyfish (Thysanostoma loriferum), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines. This whale shark had already been feeding on plankton in the vicinity of our boat for nearly an hour and then I was distracted from it by this stunning jellyfish, which I photographed for a long time. Then I couldn't believe my luck when my snorkelling companion informed me that the whale shark had reappeared and was heading towards us and the jellyfish. I had just enough time to get in position to take a sequence of photos of it swimming past the jellyfish.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_9463.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), swimming past a  jellyfish (Thysanostoma loriferum), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines. This whale shark had already been feeding on plankton in the vicinity of our boat for nearly an hour and then I was distracted from it by this stunning jellyfish, which I photographed for a long time. Then I couldn't believe my luck when my snorkelling companion informed me that the whale shark had reappeared and was heading towards us and the jellyfish. I had just enough time to get in position to take a sequence of photos of it swimming past the jellyfish.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_9465.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), swimming past a  jellyfish (Thysanostoma loriferum), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines. This whale shark had already been feeding on plankton in the vicinity of our boat for nearly an hour and then I was distracted from it by this stunning jellyfish, which I photographed for a long time. Then I couldn't believe my luck when my snorkelling companion informed me that the whale shark had reappeared and was heading towards us and the jellyfish. I had just enough time to get in position to take a sequence of photos of it swimming past the jellyfish.
    whale-shark-palawan9466.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), swimming past a  jellyfish (Thysanostoma loriferum), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines. This whale shark had already been feeding on plankton in the vicinity of our boat for nearly an hour and then I was distracted from it by this stunning jellyfish, which I photographed for a long time. Then I couldn't believe my luck when my snorkelling companion informed me that the whale shark had reappeared and was heading towards us and the jellyfish. I had just enough time to get in position to take a sequence of photos of it swimming past the jellyfish.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_9470.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), swimming past a  jellyfish (Thysanostoma loriferum), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines. This whale shark had already been feeding on plankton in the vicinity of our boat for nearly an hour and then I was distracted from it by this stunning jellyfish, which I photographed for a long time. Then I couldn't believe my luck when my snorkelling companion informed me that the whale shark had reappeared and was heading towards us and the jellyfish. I had just enough time to get in position to take a sequence of photos of it swimming past the jellyfish.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_9473.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) with surface reflection and rainbow runner (Elagatis bipinnulata), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines, Sulu Sea
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_0364.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), swimming beneath a shoal of small blue fish, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines, Sulu Sea. When I entered the water to approach this whale shark I was amazed by the incredible mosaic of fish, light and reflections on and above the whale shark. I have seen many beautiful lighting effects with whale sharks but this was one of the most striking views that I can recall. It wasn't feeding on the fish and they may have been swimming with it either for protection from the whale shark or other predators, or most likely just both feeding on plankton in the same plankton-rich area.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_0475.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) with shoal of blue fish and reflection, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_0480.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_0836.jpg
  • Juvenile whale shark (Rhincodon typus), with a common remora (Remora remora), attached to it's ventral side,  Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines, Sulu Sea. I have always been intrigued by the remoras attached to the whale sharks, and their behaviour. I am always trying to get close-up photos of them but they are usually very skittish and difficult to photograph even though they are initially attached. I have even observed them tucking their heads inside the gill slits of their host to avoid me.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_1392.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) with a shoal of rainbow runner (Elagatis bipinnulata), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_1254.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) with a shoal of rainbow runner (Elagatis bipinnulata), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_1782.jpg
  • Whale shark, Rhincodon typus, with a shoal of rainbow runner (Elagatis bipinnulata), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines, Sulu Sea Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_1787.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), swimming near the sea bed with a shoal of small fish, Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines, Sulu Sea
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_2509.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), swimming near the sea bed with a shoal of rainbow runner (Elagatis bipinnulata), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines, Sulu Sea
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_3376.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), rear view with surface reflection and a shoal of rainbow runner (Elagatis bipinnulata), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines, Sulu Sea
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_2444.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), rear view with surface reflection and a shoal of rainbow runner (Elagatis bipinnulata), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines, Sulu Sea
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_2445.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), rear view with surface reflection and a shoal of rainbow runner (Elagatis bipinnulata), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines, Sulu Sea
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_2446.jpg
  • Whale shark (Rhincodon typus), rear view with surface reflection and a shoal of rainbow runners (Elagatis bipinnulata), Honda Bay, Palawan, the Philippines, Sulu Sea. Rainbow runner are the commonest large fish that can frequently be seen accompanying the whale sharks in Honda Bay.
    whale-shark-palawan_MG_2447.jpg