Megamouth Shark

Megachasma pelagios

Phylum

Chordata

 Megamouth Shark

Class

Chondrichthyes

Order

Lamniformes

Family

Megachasmidae

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common names : Megamouth shark.
Diet : Plankton.
Reproduction : Unknown.
Size : Maximum 5 metres  Average female unknown Average male unknown

 

Distribution of Megamouth Distribution : Possibly throughout the worlds oceans, but known only from specimens found off Hawaii, Japan, Western Australia and California. Thought to prefer the deep open ocean but has been found close to the coast.

 

Danger to man : Harmless
Economic Importance : None.
Other Comments : Undiscovered until a specimen was accidentally caught off Hawaii in 1976. In total, only ten specimens have ever been sighted, studied or caught to date and therefore very little is known of their behaviour and mating activities. This shark is known to migrate to the deep depths (at least 200 metres) over a 24 hour period, traveling downwards during daylight and returning to a few metres below the surface at night. The Megamouth is a timid shark that will flee downwards when approached, this probably being the reason for it's lack of discovery for so many years.