INDO-PACIFIC BASKING SHARK 



2903 



when it can inflict blows with its tail capable of staving in the sides of a boat, this 

 shark is perfectly harmless, its food consisting entirely of small fishes which swim 

 in shoals, and various invertebrates. Remains of an extinct species occur in the 

 Pliocene deposits of Belgium, while others from older Tertiary beds have been ten- 

 tatively assigned to the genus. 



INDO-PACIFIC BASKING SHARK Family RHINODONTID^ 



Although resembling the true basking shark in the large size of its gill clefts 

 and the structure of its gill rakers, the gigantic species (Rhinodon typicus) figured 

 in the accompanying illustration differs in having the mouth and nostrils situated near 

 the extremity of the muzzle, as well as in the backward position of the small first 



INDO-PACIFIC BASKING SHARK. 



(One one-hundreth natural size.) 



dorsal fin, which does not reach to the level of the highest point of the back, 

 instead of standing immediately above it. Moreover, instead of being subcylindrical, 

 the whole body of this shark is markedly depressed and the huge mouth forms a 

 nearly oblong aperture, and is armed with bands of very small and numerous teeth. 

 The sides of the tail bear a well-defined keel, and the lower lobe of the caudal fin 



