AI--warning graphic--Whale sex and shark sex.

AI Overview Whales and whale sharks (a type of shark) have very different reproductive processes. Whales, like humpback whales, are mammals and reproduce sexually, sometimes in groups and even between males, while the much larger whale shark is a fish that reproduces via internal fertilization and live birth, similar to other sharks. Key differences include the presence of claspers in male sharks for sperm transfer and the absence of them in whales. Whales (e.g., Humpback Whales)

Mammalian Reproduction: .

Whales are mammals and give birth to live young, which are nourished with milk.

Sexual Behavior: .

Humpback whales have been observed engaging in sexual activity, including between males.

External Genitalia: .

Whales possess an external genital opening located on their abdomen, which can be used to determine sex by its relative position to the tail, according to Pacific Whale Foundation.

Whale Sharks

Fish Reproduction: .

Whale sharks are fish, not mammals. Internal Fertilization: .

Males transfer sperm to the female's body, where the eggs are fertilized internally, says Three Islands Whale Shark Dive.

Male Claspers: .

Male whale sharks have modified pelvic fins called claspers, which are specialized organs used to transfer sperm into the female's cloaca. Live Birth (Ovoviviparous): .

Whale sharks are ovoviviparous, meaning the young develop inside the mother's body using a yolk sac and are born live.

Courtship and Mating: .

While still largely a mystery, mating behaviors are believed to involve slow movements and biting, with males using their claspers to stay secure and deliver sperm to the female's belly, notes Shark Angels.

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