by: Claire Burke11 August 2009
OPEN wide... this basking shark looks ready to gobble someone whole as it opens its jaws to reveals an enormous mouth.
But despite its ferocious appearance the toothless creatures are harmless to humans and feed only on microscopic plankton.
These incredible pictures showing the basking sharks feeding were taken off the Cornish coast, where they arrive in their hundreds each summer on their annual migration.
Stunned tourists witnessed the rare and beautiful sight as one breached the surface of the water.
The elusive animals are one of the only types of sharks to visit British shores.
They grow up 36ft in length and weigh up to 19 tons. They suck in vast amounts of water, the equivalent of an Olympic swimming pool every hour, and filter out the tiny creatures.
The numbers off the British coast have increased dramatically this year after hot weather created a boom in plankton.
Last month British holidaymakers cruising around the Inner Hebrides, Scotland, were treated to an incredible sight as a three-metre long basking shark breached three times.
Passengers were enjoying an eco trip onboard the Sula Beag with tour operators Sea Life Surveys.
They were sailing near the island of Mull when it leapt out of the water.
http://www.thelondonpaper.com/thelondonpaper/weird/odd-news/amazing-pics-of-giant-mouthed-sharks-off-uk-coast
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