Explore Creatures
Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus
The world’s second-largest fish, the basking shark is protected in several countries. In summer, it swims open-mouthed at the surface, filtering out plankton. Every hour, the shark passes up to 395,000 gallons (1.5 million liters) of seawater through the huge gills that almost encircle its head. Its liver runs the length of the abdominal cavity and is filled with oil to aid buoyancy.
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- Order Lamniformes
- Length 20–36 ft (6–11 m)
- Weight Up to 7.7 tons (7 metric tons)
- Depth 0–6,500 ft (0–2,000 m)
- Distribution Cold- to warm-temperate coastal waters worldwide
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