More Shark Printouts | Megamouth Shark |
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The Megamouth shark is a large, slow-swimming, timid shark that was only discovered in 1976. Only 14 examples of this rare species have ever been found, mostly in the Pacific Ocean. Off the coast of Indonesia, three Sperm whales were observed attacking a Megamouth shark (the 13th observed megamouth).
Diet: The Megamouth shark filter-feeds, eating tiny organisms, including zooplankton (like tiny crustaceans) and phytoplankton. It feeds near the suface at night (it is nocturnal), but each day it descends to a depth of 650 ft (200 m).
Anatomy: The Megamouth shark is up to 16.5 feet (5 m) long and weighs about 1,650 pounds (750 kg).
Classification: Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Chondrichthyes, Order Lamniformes (Mackerel sharks), Suborder Lamnoides, Family Megachasmidae (megamouth sharks), Genus Megachasma, Species M. pelagios.
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