Basking shark

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Basking shark
Basking shark.jpg
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.