Rare Megamouth shark caught in Japan

Megamouth shark

A group of Japanese fishermen have caught an incredibly rare Megamouth shark off the coast of Japan from a depth of about 800m.

The bizarre creature has only been caught or even spotted by humans 58 times in history.

The shark measured 13 feet long and weighed nearly 1,500 pounds. It was hauled in from a depth of more than 2,000 feet.


The name ‘megamouth’ is derived from the disproportionate size of its huge head and the enormous capacity of its mouth, which is kept open as it swims in order to filter water for plankton and jelly fish.
Only 13 sightings of the sharks off the coast of Japan have been recorded. Over 1,500 people gathered to watch the 13ft long animal’s necropsy, which scientists are hoping will help them learn more about the unusual species.

Even though it is so rare, it has been sighted all over the world, with specimens hauled in in California, South Africa, Brazil, the Philippines and even Australia.

The Megamouth shark caught in Japan has been dissected at the Marine Science Museum in Shizuoka, west of Tokyo.