Megamouth Shark Facts | Megamouth Shark Diet & Habitat

Prepare for the most attracting megamouth shark facts including its behavior, diet, and other insights about its migration. The megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios) is one of the rarest shark species that inhabits in the deep water. Only a few numbers of these species have been observed ever since 1976. The shark is a filter feeder just like a whale shark and basking shark. These species tend to swim with its mouth open so as to filter plankton and jellyfish out of water. It is best known for its large head together with the rubbery lips. The megamouth shark belongs to the family of Megachasmidae. Of all the shark species, the megamouth is by far the most mystifying and least understood. They can grow to a length of about 5 meters and there are around 50 teeth in a mouth that are hooked in a row.

Interesting Megamouth Shark Facts

They have a unique physical appearance in that the undersides are white, whereas the top is brownish black in color; they have an elongated tail that is related to the thresher shark.
The megamouth shark is not a good swimmer in comparison to other shark species and they have sensitive body with no keels.
The length of the megamouth sharks measure around 5.5 meters (18 feet). The males are normally 4 meters (13 feet) long while females are 5 meters (16 feet).
The weight of megamouth is around 1,215 kg (2,680 lb).
These sharks can be recognized with their large mouths and surprisingly small teeth. The width of the mouth measures around 1.3 meters.
One of the largest male megamouth sharks that measured 4.9 meters (16 feet) was caught in Dana Point California in 1990. This shark was known to cruise at a depth of 120 – 160 meters (400 – 525 feet); however they would come up as the day begins to an end at a depth of 12 – 25 meters (39 – 80 feet).
Most of these species have gone dead since 1976 possibly due to hunting or some other accidental causes.
They are known to migrate vertically in that megamouth sharks descends deep into the river as the day begins and it comes up as the night falls.
The fish primarily feeds on group of preys while opening their mouth.

Where Do Megamouth Sharks Live

These types of fish inhabits across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans in Taiwan and Japan. There are around 10 specimens exist in this part of the world. Some other places where these fish reside are Mexico, Philippine, Brazil, Australia, Indonesia, Senegal, South Africa, Hawaii, California, and Ecuador. One of the heaviest megamouth sharks was found dead with the weight measuring at 880 – 1,100 pounds (400 – 500 kg). The length of these species was 4 meters (13 feet).