THE FINS UNITED INITIATIVE
  • About TFUI
    • TFUI Origins >
      • About TFUI Founder Melissa
      • TFUI Officers
    • Take a Bite
    • Get Involved
    • FAQ
  • Bite Blog
  • Education
    • The Sharks >
      • Shark Anatomy
    • The Skates & Rays
    • The Chimaeras
    • Why Environments Matter
    • The Threats
    • Open Access >
      • Behind the Fins: Interview series
      • Bite into Research
      • Shark Bites: Book Recommendations
      • Sustainable Seafood Apps
  • Fins United
    • Shark Party Ideas
    • Little Fins Nursery
    • Big Fins Reef
  • Contact

megamouth shark

8/23/2018

 
The megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios) made it's grand introduction to the scientific world in 1976 by a U.S navy research vessel operating around Oahu, Hawaii. How did the shark alert scientists of its presence? By getting tangled in a bunch of wires. 
You may be wondering where its common name came from... well, if the picture didn't give it away, ‘megamouth’ came from its gaping mouth. This shark is so odd that it is in its very own genus and family; it is the sole member of the genus Megachasma. It has been estimated that there have been over a hundred sightings of this shark since the first discovery - in fact, scientist Paul Clerkin even got to tag one on Shark Week- the first person to do so! 

While there is growing data about megamouth behaviour, being a deepsea shark means we still don't know a lot about it! Population size? No idea. How they're fairing? Not a clue! Where they are found? Outside of the sightings in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans we don't have much else to go on.

What we do know is that this is another filter feeding shark, gulping in plankton from the water. It is also believed that their lips/roof of their mouths are bioluminescent, which attracts prey to it in the deep sea where it is very dark. The IUCN has assessed these animals as Least Concern (LC).

HAVE YOU HEARD OF THIS CRITTER BEFORE?

GLOSSARY

  • IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature.​

​SAY HELLO!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

Picture
SPINNER SHARK
Picture
FALSE PEACOCK SKATE
Picture
EASTERN SHOVELNOSE RAY

Comments are closed.

    Author

    TFUI Founder Melissa C. Marquez is author of all animal bios and "Behind the Fins" segments.
    ​
    A proud #LatinainSTEM, Marquez is a marine biologist who focuses on shark habitat use and movements; she is also a science communicator (follow her on Twitter) who focuses on diverse Chondrichthyan education and who focuses on the media coverage of sharks.
    You can learn more about her on her website.

    SEE MELISSA'S TEDx TALK HERE:

    Archives

    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

    Subscribe to The Fins United Initiative's monthly newsletter.

    SEARCH BY CATEGORIES

    Picture
    SHARKS
    Picture
    SKATES &
    ​RAYS
    Picture
    CHIMAERA

    READER FAVORITES

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM

    @finsunitedinitiative
    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • About TFUI
    • TFUI Origins >
      • About TFUI Founder Melissa
      • TFUI Officers
    • Take a Bite
    • Get Involved
    • FAQ
  • Bite Blog
  • Education
    • The Sharks >
      • Shark Anatomy
    • The Skates & Rays
    • The Chimaeras
    • Why Environments Matter
    • The Threats
    • Open Access >
      • Behind the Fins: Interview series
      • Bite into Research
      • Shark Bites: Book Recommendations
      • Sustainable Seafood Apps
  • Fins United
    • Shark Party Ideas
    • Little Fins Nursery
    • Big Fins Reef
  • Contact