Year: 1976

The discovery of the megamouth shark

In 1976, off the coast of Hawaii in the Pacific, a specimen previously unknown to science was caught, revealing an entirely new species and genus of shark. Fewer than 100 individuals have been observed since, making it one of the latest zoological discoveries among large sharks.

🌍 Ocean: Pacific Ocean

Associated species

Requin grande gueule montrant sa bouche immense
Harmless

Megamouth shark

Megachasma pelagios

Megamouth shark

So rare it was only discovered in 1976, with fewer than 100 individuals observed since, despite reaching over 5 metres in length.

🌊 12–250 m

  • ⚡ A species discovered only in 1976, one of the major zoological discoveries of the 20th century
  • ⚡ A mouth that can open over a metre wide to filter plankton
Full profile →