[sci.research] Megachasma Shark

Macros@altger.UUCP (Macros) (07/26/88)

Interesting what became of my request on Information of the Loch Ness
Monster :-)

Now I have to give information, oh well...

Scientific name: Megachasma pelagios
Common name: Megamouth Shark
Distribution: Pacific (as far as known) deep, oceanic waters
Size (cm): 446
Colour: Dusky brown to black

"Known only from two specimens. Finding a new giant species that was also a
new genus and a new family was the most exciting shark discovery this century
(Hawaii, 1976). It has an enormous luminous mouth with 100+ rows of teeth.
Lives midwater."

"Only two specimens of the large, filter-feeding megamouth shark Megachasma
Pelagios have so far been caught. The first was discovered in strange circum-
stances when an oceanographic research vessel hauled in two parachutes sea-
anchors from a depth of about 165m (541ft) in waters off Hawaii, to find a
megamouth entangled in one of them. It was suggested that the shark had been
swimming along with its mouth open to catch small crustaceans when it en-
countered the parachute, which became entangled in its tiny teeth."

"... the other [was caught] off the coast of California. Megamouth like
the whale and basking sharks, is a filter feeder, and yet anatomically it
is related more closely to the great white shark Carcharodon carcharias."
"Megamouth sharks have luminous organs inside their mouths which may be used
to attract the small fish and squid they filter from the water."

Reference:
		  SHARKS
		  Silent Hunters of the deep
		  (c) 1986 Reader's Digest Services Pty Ltd
		  National Library of Australia
		  cataloguing-in-publication data
		  ISBN 0 86438 014 3

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about sharks
It's excellently illustrated. With distributions
of the "who's who" of shark research.
A must for any Scuba Diver interested in Marine Biology.

Mike


-- 
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jwm@stdc.jhuapl.edu (Jim Meritt) (07/30/88)

In article <871@altger.UUCP> Macros@altger.UUCP (Macros) writes:
}Interesting what became of my request on Information of the Loch Ness
}Monster :-)
}A must for any Scuba Diver interested in Marine Biology.


A "must" for any marine biology interested in Scuba divers!


Disclaimer: Individuals have opinions, organizations have policy.
            Therefore, these opinions are mine and not any organizations!
Q.E.D.
jwm@aplvax.jhuapl.edu 128.244.65.5  (James W. Meritt)