Cetorhinus

/ˌsiːtəˈraɪnəs/ noun

Definition

The genus name for the basking shark, a massive filter-feeding shark found in temperate oceans worldwide.

Etymology

From Greek 'ketos' (whale) and 'rhis' (nose), literally 'whale-nosed,' coined because early naturalists thought its large snout resembled a whale's.

Kelly Says

The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) opens its mouth so wide while feeding that a human could swim through it—it's basically a 35-foot living net for catching plankton!

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