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16 November 2009
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Basking Shark Basking Shark



An unlikely resident of Welsh waters, this gentle giant of the sea has been known to find itself journeying from North Atlantic waters to the Pembrokeshire coast on occasion.

The second largest fish in the world, its vast open mouth feeds only on plankton, and its estimated that it takes in around 1,482,000 litres of water an hour. Reaching sizes of up to 12.3 metres, the average Basking Shark is not quite so gargantuan, clocking in at around 8.9m metres for the female and 6.5 metres for the male.

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Explore the rich history of the Mumbles and Swansea Bay on this special coastal walk

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Find out more about UK habitats and species at Wild Britain




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