TM
Common Names: Basking Shark
Scientific Name: Cetorhinus maximus
Size: Up to 10m
Found in: Worldwide in cold to warm temperate waters.
Population Status: Vulnerable to Extinction (IUCN 2007)
Teeth: None!
Basking sharks are filter feeders. They feed on zooplankton and are thought to be capable of filtering over 1800 tonnes of water per hour.
Reproduction:
Very little is known about the reproduction of this species. However they are believed to be ovoviviparous - eggs hatch internally then the shark gives birth to live young.
At birth juveniles are estimated to be between 1.5 and 2 m.
Interesting Facts:
The Basking Shark is the second largest fish in the ocean - only surpassed by the Whale Shark.
Gavin Parsons
