# Basking shark (*Cetorhinus maximus*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/basking-shark  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) is a fish in the sharks and rays subgroup, classified in the family Cetorhinidae of the order Lamniformes. It belongs to the class Elasmobranchii and the genus Cetorhinus, and its scientific name carries the authority (Gunnerus, 1765). The global IUCN Red List assessment lists the basking shark as Endangered (EN), an IUCN threatened category. Other English names for the species are Homer, Pelerin, Sunfish, Oilfish and Capidolo.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | 7.9 m |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | marine |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Migration | Migratory |
| Conservation status | Endangered (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Elasmobranchii
- order: Lamniformes
- family: Cetorhinidae
- genus: Cetorhinus
- species: *Cetorhinus maximus* (Gunnerus, 1765)

Synonyms: *Cetorhinus blainvillei*, *Cetorhinus maccoyi*, *Cetorhinus maximus f. infanuncula*, *Cetorhinus maximus infanuncula*, *Cetorhinus maximus normani*, *Cetorhinus normani*, *Cetorhinus rostratus*, *Halsydrus maccoyi*, *Halsydrus maximus*, *Halsydrus pontoppidiani*, *Halsydrus pontoppidiani*, *Hannovera aurata*, *Polyprosopus macer*, *Scoliophis atlanticus*, *Selache elephas*, *Selache maxima*, *Selache maximum*, *Selache maximus*, *Selachus pennantii*, *Squalis gunneri*, *Squalis shavianus*, *Squalus cetaceus*, *Squalus elephas*, *Squalus gunnerianus*, *Squalus homianus*, *Squalus isodus*, *Squalus maximus*, *Squalus pelegrinus*, *Squalus peregrinus*, *Squalus rashleighanus*, *Squalus rhinoceros*, *Squalus rostratus*, *Tetraoras angiova*, *Tetroras angiova*, *Tetroras maccoyi*

## Common questions

### Is the basking shark endangered?

Yes. The basking shark is listed as Endangered (EN) in the global IUCN Red List assessment, which is an IUCN threatened category.

### What kind of animal is the basking shark?

The basking shark is a fish in the sharks and rays subgroup, belonging to the class Elasmobranchii.

### What is the scientific name of the basking shark?

The scientific name of the basking shark is Cetorhinus maximus, in the genus Cetorhinus.

### What family does the basking shark belong to?

The basking shark belongs to the family Cetorhinidae, in the order Lamniformes.

### Who named the basking shark and when?

The scientific name Cetorhinus maximus carries the authority (Gunnerus, 1765).

### What other names does the basking shark have?

Other English names for the basking shark are Homer, Pelerin, Sunfish, Oilfish and Capidolo.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/basking-shark