# Megamouth Shark (*Megachasma pelagios*)

> The megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios) is a rare deep-water filter feeder discovered only in 1976. Adults reach about 5 m, swim vertical migrations nightly, and are listed Least Concern.

- **Category:** Fish
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Deep tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/megamouth-shark/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Chondrichthyes
- **Order:** Lamniformes
- **Family:** Megachasmidae
- **Genus:** Megachasma

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Megachasma pelagios |
| Diet | Filter feeder |
| Habitat | Open ocean deep waters |
| Lifespan | 100+ years |
| Weight | 500–800 kg |
| Top speed | up to 5 km/h |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Filter feeder of the midnight zone

A bulbous head, rubbery lips, and huge mouth filter krill and jelly organisms. A white band around the snout may glow with bioluminescent symbionts — still debated.

## Krill and deep scattering layer

Vertical migrations follow the deep scattering layer upward at night. Filter feeding suits low-energy life in nutrient-poor open ocean.

## Tropical oceans worldwide

Recorded from Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Ocean deep slopes and basins. Most encounters come from entanglement in deep nets or strandings.

## Elusive but not yet threatened

Least Concern despite few sightings — huge deep habitat and no targeted fishery. Bycatch in deep gear remains the main human interaction.

## Frequently asked questions

### When was the megamouth shark discovered?

In 1976 off Hawaii — the first shark family discovered in modern times.

### How does a megamouth shark feed?

It swims with the huge mouth open, filtering krill and gelatinous plankton from deep water.

### How big is a megamouth shark?

Adults reach roughly 4–5 m — large but smaller than basking or whale sharks.

### Why is the mouth white?

A pale band may attract prey in darkness, possibly with bioluminescent bacteria.

### Are megamouth sharks dangerous?

No — they are filter feeders eating tiny plankton, not large prey.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/megamouth-shark/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.