Basking Shark facts: time to eat tiny things!

Basking sharks are one of three filter feeding shark species. They are known for their behavior of basking towards the surface of the ocean - they may even jump completely out of the water (breaching) - but these sharks can also dive quite deep. It's currently believed basking sharks spend autumns and winters in the depths of the ocean possibly hibernating while they wait for their food-collecting gill rakers to grow back in. These sharks are the second largest living fish, second only to the whale shark another filter feeding shark species. Basking sharks have huge, gaping mouths they use to collect the foods they eat which consist mainly of zooplankton.

Scientific Name: Cetorhinus maximus
Range: temperate ocean waters worldwide
Size: 33 feet (10m) - possibly larger
Diet: copepods, fish eggs, crustacean larvae, etc.
Lifespan: 50 years (still being studied)

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