basking shark
A large, slow-moving shark (Cetorhinus maximus) that feeds on plankton. The name is thought to come from the shark's wrinkled skin resembling an old woman (姥).
The basking shark is a large shark that eats plankton.
ダイバーがウバザメの群れに遭遇した。
The divers encountered a school of basking sharks.
Katakana spelling is common for this animal name; usually written in kana.
Rarely used kanji form; the kanji 姥 (old woman) and 鮫 (shark) are not commonly used for this word.
Written 姥鮫, from 姥 “old woman” and 鮫 “shark,” traditionally associated with the animal’s aged-looking, nearly toothless mouth.