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Basking Shark

What is basking shark?

· Sarah Mitchell

Key facts

Scientific name Cetorhinus maximus[1]
Family Cetorhinidae[4]
Diet Plankton[2]
Size Up to 33 feet long[1]
Conservation status Endangered[1]

The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) is the second-largest living shark and fish, after the whale shark. It is a slow-moving filter feeder that swims with its mouth open to strain plankton from seawater, and it is found mainly in temperate Atlantic and Pacific waters.

Context

The basking shark is a large, slow-swimming shark that feeds by filtering plankton from seawater. It is commonly described as the second-largest living shark and fish after the whale shark [2]. It is found predominantly in temperate regions of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans [4]. The species is said to live around 50 years [1].

Documented claims

  • It is a filter feeder that swims with its mouth open to take in plankton. [3]
  • It is described as harmless to humans. [3]
  • It is the second-largest living fish after the whale shark. [2]

Related

Questions and answers

Are basking sharks harmless to humans?

Yes, basking sharks are described as harmless to humans [3]. They are filter feeders and do not pose a threat.

Can basking sharks be aggressive?

No, basking sharks are not aggressive. They are slow-moving filter feeders that are harmless to humans [3].

What is the second-largest shark?

The basking shark is the second-largest living shark and fish, after the whale shark [2].

Sources

  1. Basking shark | Size, Habitat, Diet, & Facts — britannica.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Basking Shark - Florida Museum of Natural History — floridamuseum.ufl.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) — nhm.ac.uk (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. Creature Feature: Basking Shark — whoi.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Things