Species · GBIF taxon 2420726
Basking Shark
Cetorhinus maximusAlso known as Bone Shark, Elephant Shark, Hoe-mother
Basking sharks cruise temperate oceans worldwide with their cavernous mouths agape, filtering massive quantities of zooplankton through dark, comb-like gill rakers. These gentle giants frequently feed near the surface, exposing their large dorsal and caudal fins in a slow, undulating motion that historically inspired tales of sea monsters. Despite their immense size, they are highly migratory, undertaking vast seasonal journeys across deep basins and continental shelves in search of plankton blooms.
MarineFilter-feederMigratory
Licensed referencerossbeane / CC BY-SA 2.0 · CC BY-SA 2.0
—observations
—countries
—peak records
EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Copepods
- Krill
- Decapod larvae
Predators
- Killer whale
- Great white shark
ThreatsBycatch in commercial fisheries, vessel strikes, and historical overharvesting for liver oil
HabitatsTemperate coastal and pelagic oceans worldwide
Life spanAbout 50 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyCetorhinidae
- SpeciesCetorhinus maximus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Harmless filter feeders, but their immense size and rough skin require keeping a safe distance.
- What to notice
- Look for a colossal, slow-moving dark shape near the surface with a prominent, floppy dorsal fin and a snout tip breaking the water.
- Support conservation
- Never touch, ride, or harass these sharks; report sightings to local marine conservation databases to aid tracking.
Responsible observation
- Maintain distance: Keep at least 100 meters away when operating watercraft to avoid collisions.
- Limit noise: Cut engines or idle quietly if a shark approaches your vessel to avoid startling it.
- Watch the tail: Avoid swimming directly behind them, as their powerful tail sweeps can cause accidental injury.
Filter-feeder (c) Daniel Benák, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Daniel Benák · cc-by
Image unavailableFilter-feeder 
Close Relative "Great White Shark" by Elias Levy is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Julien Savoie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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