There have been sparse sightings of the Loch Ness Monster. Even fewer of Bigfoot. But the megamouth shark, one of which was just found washed up ashore in the Philippines, has only been seen 60 times by human eyes. And what a sight this shark is!
It’s a massive 15 feet long, has a large, rubbery jaw, and villagers in Marigondon, Pio, the town in which it washed up, dubbed the rare behemoth “Toothless,” before preserving it in ice.
Very little is known of this elusive and blubbery beast.
“The mystery surrounding it reminds us how much we still have to learn about the natural world,” Christopher Bird, a marine zoologist and blogger, wrote on the blog Shark Devocean. “It prevents information on its distribution getting into the hands of those who would happily exploit this creature for some large fish steaks or megamouth burgers.”
I've never seen one of these sharks before, but I won't soon forget him. I mean, just look at this thing…
Before 1976, no one had any idea megamouths even existed. Then, in Hawaii, a 14-footer gobbled down an underwater parachute filled with sand, which a Navy ship was using as an anchor.
They are related to the whale shark and basking shark and are filter feeders. That means they use those big mouths to suck up plankton and jellyfish. They’re fish vacuums!
The megamouth’s mouth, which is lined with a glowing patch, lures prey into its death jaws.
To see a rare glimpse of a megamouth in its natural environment, watch the video below.
Please SHARE this post with everyone you know, because the more people know about this rare fish the better we can protect it (rather than eat it — eww!)
