Is the megamouth shark aggressive?

Is the megamouth shark aggressive?

Like the other large filter-feeding sharks, however, megamouths are believed to have a wide geographical range. Scientists believe that the megamouth shark is probably slow moving and not aggressive and therefore unlikely to pose a threat to people in the water.

Has there ever been a megamouth shark attack?

There have been close 200 confirmed occurrences of megamouth sharks around the world and we are investigating reports of additional individuals. This rare and unusual shark has been knowingly encountered so few times that the scientific community has a list and extensive notes on each shark encountered.

Is the mega mouth still alive?

On May 22, 2017, a live megamouth shark was found in a fishing net off Sunosaki Lighthouse in Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. The estimated 5 m (16 ft) to 6 m (20 ft) female was filmed by an Asahi Shimbun photographer and examined by a TV celebrity marine biologist. The shark died the following day.

Are basking sharks aggressive?

Despite their large size and threatening appearance, basking sharks are not aggressive and are harmless to divers and snorkelers, just like whale sharks. And though they are large and slow, these sharks can breach, jumping entirely out of the water.

How does a megamouth shark behave?

Like many species with a deep-sea affinity, scientists believe megamouth sharks only come near the surface at night and spend most of their lives in the dark. They are filter feeders and swim with their mouths constantly wide open in order to filter out their preferred planktonic prey.

How many people have seen a megamouth shark?

This species has only been observed in the wild a few times, and less than 60 individuals are known by scientists to ever be captured or observed.

Do megamouth sharks exist?

The megamouth shark is a rare shark and a large species, reaching weights of 2700 pounds (1215 kg). However, it is the smallest of the three species of filter-feeding sharks, behind the whale shark and the basking shark. The megamouth shark gets its name from the remarkably large, circular mouth.