[lwptoc]

Introduction: What is a Basking Shark?

The Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus) is a species of shark that belongs to the family Cetorhinidae. It is the second-largest fish in the world, with the adult sharks growing up to a length of 32 feet and weighing up to 11,000 pounds. The Basking Shark is a filter feeder, and it feeds primarily on zooplankton, which it filters out of seawater using its gill rakers. Basking Sharks are found in temperate and cold waters all over the world, from the Arctic to the Antarctic, and they are known for their docile and harmless nature, making them popular among divers and snorkelers.

Taxonomy and Distribution of Basking Sharks

Basking Sharks belong to the kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Chondrichthyes, order Lamniformes, and family Cetorhinidae. There is only one species of Basking Shark, Cetorhinus maximus, which is further divided into two subspecies, the Pacific Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus ssp. sinensis) and the Atlantic Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus ssp. maximus). Basking Sharks are found in most temperate and cold waters all over the world, including the North Atlantic, the North Pacific, the Southern Ocean, the Mediterranean, and the Sea of Japan. They are most commonly found in the northwestern Atlantic and the northeastern Pacific, where they migrate seasonally to feed on planktonic organisms.