Megamouth Shark
Megachasma pelagios
- Group: Shark
- Typical depth: 5–600 m
- Max size: 5.5 m
- For divers: safe
- IUCN status: LC
One of the rarest and strangest sharks in the sea, the megamouth was unknown to science until 1976 and has been seen only a handful of times since. It swims slowly through the open ocean with its enormous mouth agape, straining tiny shrimp, copepods and jellyfish from the water, and grows to well over five metres yet poses no threat to divers.
Taxonomy: Animalia › Chordata › Elasmobranchii › Lamniformes › Megachasmidae › Megachasma
Species data via the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), AphiaID 281542.
FAQ
- How deep does the Megamouth Shark live?
- The Megamouth Shark (Megachasma pelagios) is typically found at 5–600 m.
- Is the Megamouth Shark dangerous to divers?
- The Megamouth Shark is harmless to divers.
- How big does the Megamouth Shark get?
- The Megamouth Shark grows to about 5.5 m.