Family MEGACHASMIDAE

Megachasmidae

© Copyright Ros Poole.

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Introduction

This monotypic family was discovered only in 1976, off Hawaii. Subsequently, only a few specimens have been obtained. The first records of this species from Australia, collected in 1988, were those of Berra & Hutchins (1990) and Hutchins (1992).

The megamouth shark is pelagic and a filter feeder, and reaches a length of greater than 5 m. Information about its life history and anatomy is available in Yano et al. (1997), Last & Stevens (1994, 2009) and Compagno (2001).

General References

Berra, T. & Hutchins, J.B. 1990. A specimen of megamouth shark, Megachasma pelagios (Megachasmidae) from Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 14(4): 651-656 fig. 1

Compagno, L.J.V. 2001. Sharks of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Bullhead, mackerel and carpet sharks (Heterodontiformes, Lamniformes and Orectolobiformes). Rome : FAO, FAO Species Catalogue for Fisheries Purposes No. 1 Vol. 2 269 pp.

Hutchins, J.B. 1992. Megamouth: gentle giant of the deep. Australian Natural History 23(12): 910-917

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Canberra : CSIRO Australia 513 pp. 84 pls.

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing Australia 2, 550 pp. [164]

Yano, K., Morrisey, J.F., Yabumoto, Y. & Nakaya, N. (eds) 1997. Biology of the Megamouth Shark. Tokyo : Tokai University Press 203 pp.

Common Name References

Compagno, L.J.V. 1984. FAO Species Catalogue. Sharks of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 125. Rome : FAO Vol. 4(1) pp. 1-249. [227] (FAO) (Megamouth Shark)

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