Mexico

Photo by: Lisa Oplinger

Whale Sharks

Whale Sharks, Rhincodon typus, has a mass of 41,000 lbs and a length of around 40 ft. They are the largest living non-mammalian vertebrate. Whale Sharks have unique patterns of spots on their body that can identify them. They feed on plankton and migrate thousands of miles to eat. They are located in tropical oceans and are actually a fish not a shark.

Whale Sharks migrate the area near Cozumel, Mexico from May to September every year making it the perfect time to try to see them.

Sharks

Many sharks live in the Golf of Mexico. These sharks include Bull Shark, Thresher Shark, Nurse Shark, Hammerhead Shark, Blacktip Shark, Sandbar Shark, Oceanic White Tip Shark, Shortfin Mako Shark, Blacknose Shark, and Finetooth Shark.

Photo by: Jamie Feick

Octopus

The two types of octopus most commonly found in Mexico are the Caribbean Reef Octopus and the Common Octopus. Though we saw many on our trip to Mexico, we cannot precisely identify their species without seeing them with their head protruding.