Huge, sluggish shark (family Cetorhinidae) named for its habit
of floating or slowly swimming at the surface. Possibly
comprising more than one distinct species, it inhabits northern
and temperate regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian
oceans. It may grow as large as 46 ft (14 m); among fishes, only
the whale shark grows larger. Despite its size, the basking
shark feeds on plankton. It is gray-brown or blackish, with tiny
teeth and very long gill slits. It is generally harmless and is
hunted sporadically for fish meal and liver oil.