Basking Shark - Cetorhinus Maximus The second largest fish in
the world, after the whale shark. Harmless to humans as it feeds
mostly on microscopic organisms called plankton. Not much is
known about the Basking Shark but, due in large part to the
success of the Shark Hunters, we now know that they spend the
winter months in subtropical to tropical waters in great depths
of up to 3000 feet. The Basking Shark gets it's name from the
large amount of time it spends on the surface of the ocean in
the summer months. It skims the top of the water column feeding
on plankton for 12-14 hours a day to sustain their massive
bodies. Basking Sharks are usually slow, plodding swimmers but
have been seen jumping high into the air, proving that they can
reach great speeds in short bursts.