iHolbox Pocket Guide Book Summer 2018

iHolbox Magazine • 15 T he Whale shark is the largest fish in the world which is spotted in Holbox Island between the months of June through September. The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) feeds through a water filtering mech- anism, which holds a wide variety of plankton and nekton, including small crustaceans, krill, crab larvae and small fish like sardines, anchovies and some- times larger prey like tuna and squid. Its slowmotion as it approaches the water surface allows the sighting and swimming with them. The round spots on its back have been the source for several names like: dom- inoes or checker fish, referring to the checkers board game. Each Whale shark has a unique spots pattern that makes it easier to identify them individually, since it doesn’t really change, as they grow old. Whale sharks prefer warm surface waters, or areas where the water is rich in nutrients, since these conditions favor the growth of the plankton on which they feed. This natural phenomenon oc- curs very near Holbox Island, specifically at the northeast of Cabo Catoche. Turning Holbox Island into a natural whale shark sanctuary where you can swim in the summer. El 30 de agosto se celebra el Día Internacional del Tiburón Ballena. El tiburón ballena es el pez más grande existente en el mundo, llega a medir hasta 18 metros y pesa el equivalente a un avión. — August 30th is the Interna- tional Whale Shark Day. Whale sharks are the world’s largest fish and can measure up to 25 feet equal to the size of a small airplane. Tour disponible del 1 de junio al 15 de septiembre de cada año — Tour available from June 1st to September 15th