Basking sharks and whale sharks are two of the largest fish in the ocean. Despite their similar names, these two species of sharks are quite different from each other.
Both sharks are filter feeders, but they have different physical characteristics, habitats, and diets.
The basking shark is the second-largest fish in the world, growing up to 26 feet in length. They have a distinctive pointed snout and a large, gaping mouth that they use to filter plankton and small fish from the water.
Basking sharks are found in temperate waters around the world, especially in the North Atlantic. They are often seen near the surface of the water, basking in the sun, which is how they got their name.
In contrast, the whale shark is the largest fish in the world, growing up to 40 feet in length.
They have a broad, flattened head and a mouth that can open up to five feet wide. Whale sharks are found in warm, tropical waters around the world, especially in the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific.
They feed on plankton, small fish, and squid.
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Basking Shark
The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) is the second-largest living shark and fish, after the whale shark.
It is one of three plankton-eating shark species, along with the whale shark and megamouth shark.
The basking shark has a distinctive appearance with a broad, flat snout and a large mouth that can open up to 1 meter wide.
The skin of the basking shark is rough and can be up to 4 inches thick.
The shark’s body is covered in small, tooth-like scales called dermal denticles, which are unique to sharks.
Habitat
Basking sharks are found in temperate and cold waters around the world.
They prefer to stay near the surface of the water, where they can feed on plankton and other small organisms.
Basking sharks are often found in coastal areas, but they can also be found in open ocean habitats.
Diet
Basking sharks are filter feeders, which means they feed on small organisms like plankton and zooplankton.
They swim with their mouth open, filtering water through their gills and trapping the small organisms in their gill rakers.
Basking sharks can consume up to 2,000 pounds of plankton in a single day.
Behavior
Basking sharks are slow-moving and gentle creatures. They are not known to be aggressive towards humans and are often curious about boats.
Basking sharks are solitary creatures, but they can sometimes be found in small groups.
Size and Weight
Basking sharks can grow up to 26 feet in length and weigh up to 5,000 pounds. Females are larger than males.
The basking shark has a gestation period of 3-4 years and can live up to 50 years.
Predators
Basking sharks have few natural predators due to their large size.
However, they are sometimes preyed upon by killer whales and great white sharks.
Conservation Status
Basking sharks are considered vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
They have been heavily hunted for their liver oil, meat, and fins. Today, basking sharks are protected in many countries, including the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
In Massachusetts, it is illegal to hunt or fish for basking sharks.
Whale Shark
The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest fish in the world, growing up to 39 feet in length and weighing up to 20,000 lbs.
It has a dark grey skin with white spots and a large mouth to help with filter feeding.
Unlike most sharks, whale sharks have a flattened head and a stereotypical shape that makes them easy to recognize.
Habitat
Whale sharks are found in tropical and warm oceans around the world, usually in coastal areas.
They prefer water temperatures between 21 and 30 °C (70 and 86 °F) and can be found at depths of up to 2,300 feet.
Diet
Whale sharks are filter feeders, meaning they feed on plankton, small fish, and krill.
They have rows of small teeth that are not used for biting, but instead, they have gill rakers that filter their food from the water.
Behavior
Whale sharks are known for their docile temperament and are not known to be aggressive towards humans.
They are slow swimmers, with a swim speed of around 3 mph.
They are also known to be solitary animals, but can sometimes be found in groups during feeding.
Size and Weight
As mentioned earlier, whale sharks can grow up to 39 feet in length and weigh up to 20,000 lbs.
However, the average size of a whale shark is around 30 feet in length.
Predators
Whale sharks have few natural predators due to their large size and lack of aggression.
However, they can sometimes fall prey to great white sharks and megamouth sharks.
Conservation Status
Whale sharks are currently listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
They are threatened by overfishing, habitat loss, and accidental capture in fishing nets. It is estimated that there are only around 100,000 whale sharks left in the wild.
In summary, the whale shark is the largest fish in the world, with a docile temperament and a diet consisting of plankton, small fish, and krill.
They are found in tropical and warm oceans around the world and are threatened by overfishing and habitat loss.
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