Megamouth Shark And Her Babies Found Dead In The Philippines

In a poignant discovery along the coastal area of Barangay Ipil, Dipaculao Aurora, a megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios) met a tragic end on its journey to give birth. The circumstances surrounding its death remain uncertain, underscoring the mysteries that surround these creatures.

“The megamouth shark is considered the most spectacular new shark discovery of the late 20^th century. The discovery of such a large shark, reaching over 8 m TL, not only represented a new genus, but an entirely new shark family,” explains prominent ichthyologist and shark scientist Dr. David Ebert. Ebert is known for his expertise in shark taxonomy, ecology, and conservation. He has described several new species of sharks and has worked extensively on the systematics of Chondrichthyans, contributing to our understanding of the diversity within this group of cartilaginous fishes. “Since the first and only capture off Hawaii other regions have become known as hotpsots for this enigmatic shark; Japan, Taiwan, southern California, and the Philippines.” Known for its distinctive features, the deepsea shark boasts a rounded snout and a generously proportioned mouth on its bulbous head. Despite its imposing appearance, the megamouth shark is characterized by its slow-moving and non-aggressive nature. A filter feeder, it sifts small plankton from the water as it swims. Their preference for deep waters, combined with their slow and solitary movements, makes encounters with megamouth sharks infrequent. Additionally, their occurrence in remote and less-explored oceanic regions further contributes to the scarcity of scientific observations. Technological limitations have historically impeded the study of these sharks, as their habitats are challenging to access with conventional research methods.

Which is why this recent discovery was such a treat to scientists. The mother megamouth shark discovered washed up on the shores of Dipaculao Aurora in the Philippines measured an impressive 16.4 feet (5 meters) in length, with a width of 3.3 ft (1 m), weighing an estimated 882 pounds (400 kilograms). However, the find soon turned bittersweet – it was discovered the megamouth shark was on the verge of giving birth.

“First record of a pregnant megamouth shark… how exciting!” exclaimed Ebert in a Facebook post, sharing the news from digital creator Annabelle Lapitn who posted the photos and description of the megamouth sharks with permission from the photographer, Joan Edillo. According to the post, each baby (called ‘pups’) measured an estimated 5.5 ft (1.7 m) in length, 12 inches in width, and weighed approximately 88 lbs (40 kgs). “The recent discovery of a pregnant female gives us new insight into this mysterious shark. […] This first record of a pregnant female will begin to answer some previously unknown questions, such as how many pups are born per litter? How big are females at maturity? Where do these sharks give birth? And where are the birthing grounds for these sharks?”

In the wake of this bittersweet discovery, scientists and conservationists are left with a renewed sense of urgency to understand and protect these incredible beings that roam the depths of our oceans. Concludes Ebert: “Although much still remains to be discovered about the megamouth shark, this new information will be critically important to increasing our knowledge and offers a glimpse into the mysterious life history of this little known shark.”

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