The basking shark is the second largest living shark in the world, and is one of three known plankton-eating sharks, along with the whale shark and megamouth shark. Adult basking sharks can reach 26 ft or more in length.
The basking shark has a crescent moon-shaped tail, a pointed snout, and fins that can reach near two meters in length. The basking shark’s body is a grey-brown color and pale on the underbelly. The shark’s mouth can open to about 1 meter wide, and contains more teeth than any other shark has, though these teeth are small, and hooked in shape. The basking shark is a coastal shark, found throughout the world in arctic waters, as well as more temperate places. This might be why these sharks are typically seen at the water’s surface, basking in the sun. It can be found throughout the world, though always close to the shoreline. From frigid waters, to relatively warm waters, this shark has a migrating nature. The basking shark resides in the Western Atlantic and Western Pacific oceans, the Gulf of Alaska, and the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez). The basking shark feeds on plankton, using a special technique called passive feeding. This means that it can swim through the water with its mouth open, and the plankton will become trapped in the gill rakers as the water passes over the gills. A basking shark can filter roughly 2,000 tons of water per hour, which helps the shark to feast quickly as the giant fish drifts through the water. Ashleigh
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