Species FAO code: BSK

Cetorhinus maximus

This species is endangered. To ensure its protection and conservation, specific rules apply to its trade and marketing in the European Union (Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora).

Page contents

Commercial designations
Production methods and fishing gears
Species distribution and habitat
Species description

Commercial designations

Country	Commercial designations	Names accepted or permitted locally or regionally
Austria	de Riesenhai	–
Croatia	hr golema psina	–
Czech Republic	cs Žralok	–
Finland	fi jättiläishai sv brugd	–
France	fr requin pèlerin fr veau de mer	–
Germany	de Riesenhai	–
Luxembourg	de Riesenhai fr requin pèlerin fr veau de mer	–
Netherlands	nl Reuzehaai	–
Portugal	pt Tubarão pt Tubarão-frade	–
Slovakia	sk obroň sťahovavý	–
Slovenia	sl morski pes orjak	–
Spain	es Peregrino	Balearic Islands: Pelegrí Catalonia: Pelegrí Galicia: Tiburón peregrino
Sweden	sv Brugd	–

Main production methods

Caught

Main fishing gears

Source: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. FishBase. Cetorhinus maximus (Gunnerus, 1765)

Habitat

Saltwater

FAO major fishing areas

Source: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. FishBase. Cetorhinus maximus (Gunnerus, 1765)

Distribution maps

Source: Aquamaps - Computer Generated Native Distribution Map for Cetorhinus maximus

Source: FAO - FAO aquatic species distribution map of Cetorhinus maximus

Scientific name

Cetorhinus maximus

Author

(Gunnerus, 1765)

Rank

Species

FAO code

BSK

Morphological description

Distinguished from all other sharks by the enormous gill slits practically encircling the head; dermal denticle gill rakers; pointed snout; huge, sub terminal mouth with minute hooked teeth; caudal peduncle with strong lateral keels, and lunate caudal fin. Body covered with placoid scales. Blackish to grey-brown, grey, or blue-grey, often with irregular white blotches under the head and abdomen (Ref. 43278). Also Ref. 309, 5983.

Taxonomic classification

ClassElasmobranchii
- OrderLamniformes
  - FamilyCetorhinidae
    - GenusCetorhinus
      - SpeciesCetorhinus maximus

Synonyms

Squalus rostratus Macri, 1819
Scoliophis atlanticus Anonymous, 1817
Squalis gunneri Blainville, 1816
Selachus pennantii Cornish, 1885
Squalus rashleighanus Couch, 1838
Selache elephas (Le Sueur, 1822)
Tetroras maccoyi Barrett, 1933
Squalus gunnerianus Blainville, 1810
Squalus homianus Blainville, 1810
Cetorhinus maximus infanuncula Deinse & Adriani, 1953
Squalus cetaceus Gronow, 1854
Cetorhinus normani Siccardi, 1961
Selache maxima (Gunnerus, 1765)
Squalus rhinoceros DeKay, 1842
Selache maximus (Gunnerus, 1765)
Halsydrus maccoyi (Barrett, 1933)
Tetraoras angiova Rafinesque, 1810
Squalus maximus Gunnerus, 1765
Polyprosopus macer Couch, 1862
Halsydrus pontoppidiani Fleming, 1817
Squalus pelegrinus Blainville, 1810
Squalis shavianus Blainville, 1816
Cetorhinus blainvillei de Brito Capello, 1869
Squalus peregrinus Blainville, 1810
Squalus isodus Macri, 1819
Cetorhinus rostratus (Macri, 1819)
Selache maximum (Gunnerus, 1765)
Halsydrus maximus (Gunnerus, 1765)
Cetorhinus maximus f. infanuncula Deinse & Adriani, 1953
Hannovera aurata van Beneden, 1871
Cetorhinus maccoyi (Barrett, 1933)
Cetorhinus maximus normani (Siccardi, 1961)
Tetroras angiova Rafinesque, 1810
Squalus elephas Lesueur, 1822

Source: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. FishBase. Cetorhinus maximus (Gunnerus, 1765)

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Cetorhinus maximus

Commercial designations

Main production methods

Main fishing gears

Gillnets and similar nets

Trawls

Habitat

FAO major fishing areas

Area 21 - Atlantic, Northwest

Area 27 - Atlantic, Northeast

Area 31 - Atlantic, Western Central

Area 34 - Atlantic, Eastern Central

Area 37 - Mediterranean and Black Sea

Area 41 - Atlantic, Southwest

Area 47 - Atlantic, Southeast

Area 57 - Indian Ocean, Eastern

Area 61 - Pacific, Northwest

Area 67 - Pacific, Northeast

Area 71 - Pacific, Western Central

Area 77 - Pacific, Eastern Central

Area 81 - Pacific, Southwest

Area 87 - Pacific, Southeast

Distribution maps