Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) fish species and Basking shark information

Scientific Name
Cetorhinus maximus

Common Name
Basking shark

Biology
The second largest shark, reportedly reaching 1,220-1,520 cm TL. Found on continental and insular shelves, offshore and often close to land, just off the surf zone; enters enclosed bays. Swims slowly at the surface, usually in groups of 3 or 4 but a group of up to 100 has been reported. Found on the bottom of deep water during winter. Coastal-pelagic at 1 meter to unknown depths, probably epipelagic. Feeds by filtering copepods, barnacles, decapod larvae, and fish eggs from the water. Ovoviviparous, embryos feeding on yolk sac and other ova produced by the mother. Regarded as ordinarily harmless and inoffensive but potentially dangerous if attacked . In Bay of Fundy, Canada parasitic lampreys have been found attached to

Classification

Classified By

Gunnerus, 1765

Class

Sharks and Rays (Elasmobranchii)

Order

Mackerel sharks (Lamniformes)

Family

Basking sharks (Cetorhinidae)

Distribution

Region

Cosmopolitan. Western Atlantic

Distribution

Cosmopolitan. Western Atlantic: Newfoundland, Canada to Florida, USA; southern Brazil to Argentina. Eastern Atlantic: Iceland, Norway and western Barents Sea to the Mediterranean and Senegal; also western Cape Province, South Africa. Western Pacific: Japan to New Zealand. Eastern Pacific: Gulf of Alaska to Chile; possibly the Galapagos Islands. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea. At risk of extinction by overfishing because of low to very low productivity. International trade restricted.

Range

75°N - 58°S, 112°E - 42°E

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

8 °C

Water Temperature To

14 °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

2000 m

Zone

pelagic-oceanic

Environment

Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous ; depth range 0 - 2000 m , usually 0 - ? m

Trophic Level

3.2 s.e. 0.30 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

900 cm

Common Length

700 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (86 of 100)

Resilience

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=1-2; Musick et al. 2000 (Ref. 36717))

Threat To Humans

Traumatogenic (Ref. 247)

IUCN Red List Status

Vulnerable (VU)(A2ad+3d)

Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) fish species and information / pictures of Basking shark - Cetorhinus maximus

Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) fish species information

Classification

Distribution

Environment

Physical Size and Genetics

Human Uses and Population