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The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) is the second-largest living shark and fish, [4] after the whale shark. It is one of three plankton-eating shark species, along with the whale shark and megamouth shark .
Sharks typically targeted for their liver oil include the school and gulper shark, and the basking shark (pictured). [1] All three of these species are either endangered [2] [3] or critically endangered [4] due to overfishing according to the IUCN, although a legal targeted fishery for basking sharks no longer exists.
Cetorhinidae is a family of filter feeding mackerel sharks, whose members are commonly known as basking sharks. It includes the extant basking shark , Cetorhinus , as well as two extinct genera , Caucasochasma and Keasius .
The high aspect ratio of the tail serves to enhance swimming power and efficiency. In these species, there are usually also lateral keels on the caudal peduncle. The whale shark and basking shark also have this type of tail, although they are generally more sedate animals than the other examples.
The megamouth is considerably less active than the other filter-feeding sharks, the basking shark and the whale shark. The megamouth has a stout body and a long, wide bulbous head. Megamouths are large sharks, able to grow to 5.49 metres (18 ft 0 in) in length. [16] [17] [18] Mature males average at 4 m (13 ft) and females at 5 m (16 ft).
Sunning or basking, sometimes also known as sunbathing, is a thermoregulatory or comfort behaviour used by humans, animals, especially birds, reptiles, and insects, to help raise their body temperature, reduce the energy needed for temperature maintenance or to provide comfort.
English: Comparison of size of basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) and human. The diagram assumes a length of 7 metres for the shark and 1.75 metres for the human (giving a ratio of 4ː1). The diagram assumes a length of 7 metres for the shark and 1.75 metres for the human (giving a ratio of 4ː1).
Keasius is an extinct genus of basking sharks that lived during the Cenozoic. It contains four valid species, which have been found in North America , Europe , and Antarctica . [ 1 ] [ 3 ]