Basking shark
From Conservapedia
Basking shark | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom Information | |
Domain | Eukaryota |
Kingdom | Animalia |
Subkingdom | Biliteria |
Branch | Deuterostomia |
Phylum Information | |
Phylum | Chordata |
Sub-phylum | Vertebrata |
Infraphylum | Gnathostomata |
Class Information | |
Class | Chondrichthyes |
Sub-class | Elasmobranchii |
Order Information | |
Superorder | Selachimorpha |
Order | Lamniformes |
Family Information | |
Family | Cetorhinidae |
Genus Information | |
Genus | Cetorhinus |
Species Information | |
Species | C. maximus |
Population statistics |
The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) is the world's second largest fish. Although it can be as long as 33 feet, and weigh as much as seven tons, it is a harmless filter feeder, eating primarily plankton. Named for its habit of floating or swimming slowly at the surface, it is found in temperate waters around the world.