Interesting facts
Basking sharks are greyish-brown and are covered with placoid scales. Placoid scales are bony, spiny projections and are similar to teeth. The basking shark has very rough skin like sandpaper!
They are between 22-29 feet in length and can weigh up to 5,200 kg.
The basking shark migrates seasonally to reproduce and find better sources of food.
The scientific name for a basking shark is 'Cetorhinus maximus' meaning 'marine monster', 'nose', and 'great' in Greek.
Did you know?
- The basking shark is also called the sunfish, the bone shark, the elephant shark, the sailfish shark, and the big mouth shark.
- Basking sharks are carnivorous animals.
- Basking sharks have very large livers that make up to 25% of their total body weight.
- In the past, basking sharks were hunted for their liver oil, used to make vitamin A and lamp oil. They are also hunted for their large fins which are prized in the shark fin trade.
- Basking sharks do not hibernate.
- Basking sharks are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red list and are endangered in the Northeast Atlantic.
