Giant shark is the second-largest fish in the sea. (April 25, 2012) |
DANA POINT, Calif. (KTLA) -- Fishing excursion professionals reported the sighting of a rare basking shark Wednesday morning in the area between San Clemente Pier and San Onofre.
The basking shark is the second-largest fish in the world, only exceeded in size by the whale shark. (Whales are of course mammals rather than fish.)
The basking shark was spotted off the vessel the 'Sum Fun,' captained by Brian Woolley.
Another basking shark was spotted earlier in the week off La Jolla.
Researches say that the basking shark swims open-mouthed at the surface, filtering out plankton.
Every hour, the basking shark passes up to 395,000 gallons of seawater through the huge gills that almost encircle its head.
Its liver runs the length of the abdominal cavity and is filled with oil to aid buoyancy.
More information about recent local sitings of the basking shark can be obtained at (858) 334-2884 or (949) 496-5794.
The basking shark is the second-largest fish in the world, only exceeded in size by the whale shark. (Whales are of course mammals rather than fish.)
The basking shark was spotted off the vessel the 'Sum Fun,' captained by Brian Woolley.
Another basking shark was spotted earlier in the week off La Jolla.
Researches say that the basking shark swims open-mouthed at the surface, filtering out plankton.
Every hour, the basking shark passes up to 395,000 gallons of seawater through the huge gills that almost encircle its head.
Its liver runs the length of the abdominal cavity and is filled with oil to aid buoyancy.
More information about recent local sitings of the basking shark can be obtained at (858) 334-2884 or (949) 496-5794.
