Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus)

Uncommon in coastal NC waters.


Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus) Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus)
Off Cape Hatteras, NC
20 Feb 2010

Basking Sharks are the second largest fishes in the world.

Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus) Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus)
Off Cape Hatteras, NC
20 Feb 2010

They are filter feeders, feeding by swimming slowly near the surface with their huge mouths open and filtering plankton. In this photo, you can see the tip of its nose on the upper right. The white area is the inside of the lower jaw.

Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus) Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus)
Off Cape Hatteras, NC
20 Feb 2010

Gills along the side of its head are visible in this photo.

Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus) Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus)
Off Cape Hatteras, NC
20 Feb 2010

Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus) Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus)
Off Cape Hatteras, NC
20 Feb 2010

When fully open, the mouth cavity is huge!

Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus) Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus)
Off Cape Hatteras, NC
20 Feb 2010


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Created on ... Sep 22, 2008 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com