Definition

Noun: 1. A taxonomic genus comprising only the basking shark: Genus Cetorhinus is the scientific name for a genus of very large, filter-feeding sharks. It contains a single extant (living) species, the basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus). This genus is characterized by enormous gill slits that nearly encircle the head, a pointed snout, and a distinctive, cavernous mouth used for feeding on plankton.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The genus Cetorhinus is represented in modern oceans by only one species.
  • Fossil evidence helps scientists understand the evolution of genus Cetorhinus.
  • Marine biologists study the migratory patterns of genus Cetorhinus to aid in its conservation.

Advanced Usage

• In taxonomic classification: The name is used in the formal, hierarchical system of biological classification (taxonomy). It sits within the order Lamniformes (mackerel sharks), and its placement within a family is sometimes debated.
  • Some taxonomic schemes place genus Cetorhinus within the family Cetorhinidae, while others include it in the family Lamnidae.

Variants and Related Words

• Cetorhinus: The standardized, italicized form used in scientific writing. (e.g., Cetorhinus )
• Cetorhinidae (n): The name of the family sometimes proposed to contain the genus .
• basking shark (n): The common name for the sole extant species within this genus, .

Synonyms

• Taxonomic synonym: In some historical or alternative classifications, other genus names may have been used, but is the accepted and valid name in modern taxonomy.

Notes on Meaning

This term has a single, precise meaning in scientific (biological) English. It refers exclusively to the taxonomic grouping for basking sharks and is not used in everyday language. Its usage is confined to academic, research, and educational contexts in fields like marine biology, zoology, and paleontology.

Noun

1. comprising only the basking sharks; in some classifications considered the type genus of a separate family Cetorhinidae