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The Existence Of Megamouth Sharks
The megamouth shark is a rare shark and a large species, reaching weights of 2700 pounds (1215 kg). However, it is the smallest of the three species of filter-feeding sharks, behind the whale shark and the basking shark. The megamouth shark gets its name from the remarkably large, circular mouth.
The megamouth has a brownish-blackish color on top and white underneath, a broadly rounded snout, and a distinctive large head with rubbery lips. They can grow to 18 feet in length. The capture in a drift net of a megamouth shark in California in 1990 was very important in understanding the species. The megamouth shark was tagged and released and followed for two days. Its pattern of behavior, staying at a depth of 50 feet during the night, then diving to 500 feet at dawn, would indicate it is a vertical migratory over a 24-hour span.
The unique appearance of the megamouth
The megamouth is known for its largemouth that it uses to filter plankton from the water. “It is also believed that its lips are bioluminescent, which attracts prey to it in the deep sea where it normally lives,” Colin explained.
