08/21/2026
Found worldwide, the Basking Shark is the second largest fish in the ocean, second only to the Whale Shark. It can reach lengths in excess of 40 feet, yet feeds on tiny plankton, barnacles, shrimp larvae and floating fish eggs. It can filter over 400,000 gallons of water through it’s gill-rakes an hour! They have more teeth than any other shark, and in spite of their great size have been known to become airborne. Their liver alone weighs nearly a ton, and contains 600 gallons of oil (which also helps this fish swim by keeping it buoyant.) The protective mucous that surrounds its body is caustic and will rot fishing nets if not cleaned off immediately after coming in contact with this animal. The slimy layer is also extremely pungent, and many fishermen can smell theses fish even when they are submerged many meters beneath the ocean’s surface!
ODDLY ENOUGH – This animal sheds and regrows its gill rakers once a year, making it the only known molting fish!
