Basking sharks are the second largest fish species in the world, they can reach lengths of up to 40 feet. Despite their imposing size, basking sharks are filter feeders, peacefully grazing on plankton with their enormous mouths wide open. Named for their habit of ‘basking‘ near the surface of the water, these slow-moving creatures are known for their docile nature and lack of interest in humans.
Join us as we dive into the intriguing world of basking sharks, exploring their unique characteristics, behaviors, and conservation efforts to protect these magnificent marine animals.
Appearance
The basking shark has one of the most unique appearances in the world’s oceans. They are one of the world’s largest kinds of sharks, second only to the whale shark and the megamouth shark. They are large, growing to around 26 feet, have gray to brown modeled skin, and a very large mouth which the sharks use to filter feed.
The largest examples of basking sharks have been recorded between 30 to 36 feet. But this is somewhat unusual. Most reach lengths of a round 26 feet and body weight of 4.58 long tons or 5.13 short tons. The largest recorded basking shark weighed 16 long tons or 18 short tons.
Their general color is very dark grey, but there is a tendency for lighter and darker areas of grey to form a pattern of longitudinal streaks.
They have long, streamlined bodies and are sometimes mistaken for great white sharks. But their large jaws, which can measure over 3 feet in width, are their most distinguishing features.
They also have very obvious, large gill slits that nearly circle the entire heads. The sharks have large dorsal fins, which are sometimes seen flopped over if the shark is especially large. Often, scientists come upon basking sharks with clear scars from smaller cookie-cutter sharks.
Amazingly, despite their large size, these sharks have been known to breach or jump entirely out of the water. Scientists believe that this behavior is inspired by their desire to shake off parasites.
Habitat
Basking sharks are a widespread species. They are pelagic animals living in all of the world’s temperate oceans. Most commonly, they live in waters between 200 to 2000 m deep.
They prefer cooler waters and are most commonly seen when these waters rise to the surface during the summer months. During the winter, they are believed to migrate to deeper waters. Despite their preference for temperate seas, basking sharks have been spotted in a range of habitats from the Arctic Circle to the Equator.
They often stay close to the shoreline and are highly migratory. They can travel thousands of miles in search of food or mates.
Most basking sharks are solitary creatures. But, scientists have observed larger groups of these sharks moving together during the summer. Groups of basking sharks as large as 100 members have been seen. Sometimes, in sex-segregated groups. But finding them in small groups or alone is far more common.
Diet
Basking sharks are filter-feeding sharks. They filter feed by using their large mouths and specialized teeth to sieve the ocean water for food. As they swim with their mouths wide open, water flows in, bringing along a variety of small organisms. The preferred prey of these gentle giants is zooplankton, small crustaceans that drift in the ocean currents.
They use their enormous gill slits to filter food from the water as they swim, moving it easily into their mouths.
Despite their formidable size and long snout, basking sharks are not hunters but peaceful grazers, perfectly adapted to a life of leisurely feeding in the rich waters of the world’s oceans.
Reproduction
Like many sharks, basking sharks are ovoviviparous, meaning they give birth to live young ones. Males are believed to reach sexual maturity at around 12 to 16 years, while females reach maturity at about 20 years.
They have a gestation period of around 2-3 years. The young are up to 6 feet long at birth.
The exact mating behavior of basking sharks is not well-documented due to their elusive nature, but it’s believed that mating occurs in early summer. They reproduce slowly, with females producing offspring only every two to four years.
Threats
Because of their size, basking sharks have few predators. More often, these sharks serve as a source of food for a variety of smaller meat-eating animals after their deaths. One of the only possible predators the sharks may have is orcas, or killer whales, which have been observed feeding on them.
While they may not face many threats from traditional predators, as many smaller species of shark do, basking sharks are threatened by human-caused dangers, these include boat collisions, getting entangled in fishing nets, and even hunting for commercial markets.
Their slow reproduction rate, combined with threats from fishing and habitat disruption, makes them particularly vulnerable to population decline.
8 More Facts About Basking Sharks
- They are known as ‘basking‘ sharks due to their habit of swimming near the water’s surface, appearing to bask in the sun.
- They have one of the highest levels of liver oil concentration among sharks, which was historically harvested for use in oil lamps and industrial lubricants.
- Basking sharks can live for up to 50 years, making them one of the longest-lived shark species.
- They can filter over 450 tons of water per hour when feeding.
- During winter, they shed and replace their gill rakers, which are essential for filter feeding.
- Basking sharks are highly migratory and can travel thousands of miles in search of food.
- Their skin can be up to 10 cm thick, protecting them from potential injuries and parasites.
- They are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
FAQs
Do basking sharks have enemies?
The only real enemies or predators basking sharks have to deal with are killer whales and human beings. While some large sharks may pose a threat, any shark species would rarely want to take on the very large basking shark.
How many basking sharks are left?
Sadly, due to historic hunting practices and contemporary problems with vessel collisions and net entanglement, there are believed to be around 10,000 basking sharks left in the world’s oceans. They are listed as “endangered” by the IUCN.
Do basking sharks hibernate during winter?
It was once thought that basking sharks hibernate during winter due to their disappearance from the surface waters. However, recent studies suggest that they migrate to deeper waters in search of food during this time.
Can basking sharks jump out of the water like some other shark species?
Basking sharks have been observed breaching – jumping out of the water. The reason for this behavior is still unclear, but it may be related to social interactions, feeding, or removing parasites.
