Basking Sharks, Not as Dangerous as They Appear

At first glance, the Basking Shark looks terrifying and dangerous. Although the Basking shark is the second largest fish in the sea after the Whale Shark, it is not as threatening as it appears feeding only on plankton.

According to the Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Department, the currently accepted scientific name of the Basking Shark is Cetorhinus maximus. The name is derived from the Greek, “ketos” meaning marine monster/ whale and “rhinos” meaning nose. The maximus part of the name is derived from Latin meaning “great.”

Basking Sharks, like most other sharks, were previously heavily hunted for their oil, meat, vitamin rich livers, and of course, for their fins. Although there are now many conservation efforts in place to protect these sharks, according to The Basking Shark Project, Basking Sharks are slow to mature and grow which has kept them listed as vulnerable on the IUCN’s Red List.  

Location/Habitat:

·         Found in cold to warm temperate waters because they are a coastal-pelagic species.

·         A recent study, according to The Basking Shark Project, has shown these sharks to have a trans-atlantic and trans-equatorial migration

·         Found feeding/swimming at or below the water surface because they are pelagic sharks.

·         Can be seen traveling in pairs or in large schools of up to 100 or more.

·         In the spring the Basking Shark is found off the Atlantic coast of North America (North Caroline to New York)

·         In the summer these sharks head north and are found in New England and Canada.

·         During the winter months the Basking Shark cannot be found suggesting that they migrate beyond the continental shelf

Description:

  ·         Average adult length is around 22-29 feet

  ·         Average length at birth is between 5-6 feet

  ·         Typically gray-ish brown but can also range from dark gray to black

  ·         Extended gill slits that almost encircle the head of the shark

  ·         Extremely large mouth that contains hundreds of tiny teeth

Eating Habits:

·         One of only three filter feeding shark

·         Swims through water with its mouth open taking in food and water

·         Food is strained from the water by gill rakers

·         Capable of filtering over 1800 tons of water per hour

·         Feed in areas that contain a high density of zooplankton