Basking sharks are rarely seen in Florida waters, but they are there in greater in greater numbers due to protection. The above short film documents this, but to truly appreciate the shark, check out the video below shot of off the Celtic coast in England: Cornwall. As the photo from a Discovery Channel documentary shows, when these harmless sharks have their massive jaws shut, they just look like super goofy, big ass fish. However, it's when they begin to feed, that their true "wierdness" begins to shine. They are the largest member of the mackerel shark family, and one of only three filter feeding sharks known to exist (along with the Whale Shark--largest fish on the planet and the little understood Megamouth, only discovered in late 1976). They can be found in all waters throughout the world, except fully tropical ones. Due to their slow nature, they are another popular target for shark finning; and though they are truly pelagic (world wandering) sharks, populations in some parts of the world are becoming extinct. See and read more at Wikipedia.
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