www.sharktrust.org Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus)

• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cetorhinus maximus
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.605.9599; http://www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/print/biodiversity/habitats-2/coast/marinehabitats/baskingshark.pdf

The Basking Shark is one of the largest fish in the world, second only to the Whale Shark, Rhincodon typus. It can reach 11 m (36 feet) long, weigh up to seven tonnes and is the only member of the family Cetorhinidae. This shark gets its name from its habit of apparently ‘basking ’ on the surface, especially in calm sunny weather. Its dorsal fin and the upper lobe of its tail fin, and sometimes the tip of its snout, may break the surface when it is feeding. Description Due to its considerable size, this species can sometimes be wrongly identified as the Great White Shark, when seen swimming in waters where both species can occur. It can be distinguished from other large sharks by the very long gill slits, which almost encircle the head. These overdeveloped gill slits are an