Rare megamouth shark found in Philippines coastal village
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A rare species of shark that can live up to 100 years was found dead in the remote area of Gubat, Philippines. Megamouth shark sightings are extremely rare among humans.
It has a rounded snout and a large mouth on a bulbous head. Its body tapers back to a moderate caudal (tail) fin with a heavier top lobe. The colour of their skin is dark gray-brown on top and light gray to white below.
The marine animal washed ashore in the coastal village and was found by the fisherfolk. The viral photos of the deepwater fish were first shared on Facebook by Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) spokesperson Nonie Enolva on June 11.
Ms Enolva said the shark may have gotten tangled in a fishing net, reported Newsweek. They are frequently caught as bycatch in commercial drift nets near Taiwan.
Megamouth sharks can live as deep as 15,000 feet below the surface of the ocean. They spend most of their time in the dark. They are believed to be active during the day chasing swarms of krill on the surface of the ocean and resting at night in the depths.
Being one of the largest shark species, the one found near the Philippines village measured 15 feet. They can grow up to 16 feet in length and weigh about 2,700 pounds. The megamouth shark was first discovered in 1976 by a US Navy research vehicle in Hawaiian waters. Since then, only 269 confirmed sightings have been reported.
It is considered to be the sole extant species in the family Megachasmidae or the only other surviving member of the Cetorhinidae family. They are thought to have existed 23 million years ago and were considered extinct until discovery.