Separation by filtration – Did you know?

The basking shark feeds by swimming with its mouth open, using gill rakers to filter plankton from the water. After trapping the plankton, the shark closes its mouth, expels the water through its gills, and swallows the plankton.

How does the basking shark obtain its food?

• By using filters while swimming

• By scavenging the ocean floor

• By hunting other fish

• By catching prey with its teeth

What is the function of gill rakers in the basking shark?

• To filter water and trap plankton

• To protect the shark from predators

• To help the shark swim faster

• To assist in breathing

Which part of the basking shark's anatomy is crucial for filtering food?

• Its gill rakers

• Its tail

• Its fins

• Its teeth

What happens to the plankton after the water is expelled?

• It is stored in the gills

• It is released back into the ocean

• It is swallowed by the shark

• It is used for breathing

What is the primary diet of the basking shark?

• Seaweed

• Plankton

• Small fish

• Crustaceans