Genus: Cetorhinus, Basking Shark

CETORHINUS

BASKING SHARK

A stout body, pointed snout and enormous mouth; many very small, blunt teeth with a single point; 5 very long gill slits that almost meet at the top and bottom of the head, all before the pectoral fins; gill rakers long and hair like; two dorsal fins, the first much larger and situated midway between the pectorals and pelvics; 2nd dorsal and anal fins small; tail fin nearly symmetrical, concave; tail base very depressed, with a large keel on each side.

Cetorhinus has a single species, which occurs circumglobally in subtropical to temperate waters and is found in northern areas of our region.