MAY 18 (Reuters) — A shark close to 25 feet (7.6 m) long was spotted by Massachusetts authorities Saturday (May 16) swimming about 200 yards (162.8 m) off the coast of Wellfleet on Cape Cod.
According to local news reports, police identified the shark as a basking shark, which is very similar to the great white, but does not eat meat.
The basking shark gets its name because of its slow moving nature and the fact that it likes to bask in the sun.
The basking shark’s conservation status is listed as vulnerable because they’ve been widely hunted.