ExploreFish

Basking Shark

Cetorhinus maximus

Basking Sharks are the second largest fish! They swim slowly and eat plankton by opening their mouths wide.

Habitat: Coastal waters

Appearance

The Basking Shark is the world's second-largest fish, with a greyish-brown back and a lighter belly. It has an enormous, gaping mouth that extends behind its eyes, and five massive gill slits that almost encircle its head, making it distinctly unique.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassElasmobranchiiOrderLamniformesFamilyCetorhinidaeGenusCetorhinus

Basking Shark

Interesting facts

Basking sharks sometimes leap completely out of the water, a behavior called breaching!

Despite their huge size, basking sharks are gentle giants and pose no threat to humans.

Female basking sharks might carry their babies for over two years, one of the longest gestations!

Its massive liver can make up a quarter of its entire body weight!

Special abilities

Basking Shark has a gigantic mouth and specialized gill rakers that help them filter vast amounts of tiny plankton.

Basking Shark can dive over 900 meters; its robust body helps them find food in cold, deep ocean waters.

Basking Shark can shed and regrow its gill rakers that helps them adapt to seasonal changes in plankton availability.

Measurements & details

Length: 600-1200 cm
Weight: 5000-7000 kg
Lifespan: 50-90 years
Swim Speed: 3.7 km/h
Max Depth: 910 m
Water Type: Saltwater

Diet & Feeding

Eats tiny ocean critters by swimming with its mouth wide open.

Primary Foods

Zooplankton
Copepods
Larval Fish
Fish Eggs

Foraging Method

Filter Feeding

Ecological connections

eaten by

Orca

Orcinus orca

Young sharks vulnerable to predation.

symbiotic with

Remora

Remora remora

Attaches for transport and food scraps.

parasitizes

Sea Lamprey

Petromyzon marinus

Attaches to shark skin for blood.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Filter Feeder

Discover amazing animals that filter their food right from the water! They have special ways to strain tiny bits of plants or other creatures to eat.

Thermoregulating

Learn about incredible animals that can keep their body temperature just right, no matter how hot or cold it gets outside! They have special ways to stay warm or cool.

Coastal

Discover life found along the edges where land meets the sea! These habitats are always changing with the tides and waves, offering unique environments.

Aquatic

Discover amazing creatures that call water their home, whether it's oceans, rivers, or lakes! These habitats are full of incredible life.

Marine

Dive into the vast, salty waters of the ocean, teeming with an incredible diversity of life, from tiny plankton to giant whales! It's a watery wonderland.

Migratory

Follow incredible journeys across the world! These animals travel far and wide at different times of the year, often to find better food or warmer places.