Megamouth Shark Facts, Diet, and Habitat; Rare Fish Found in Japan (+Video)

Megamouth Shark Facts, Diet, and Habitat; Rare Fish Found in Japan (+Video)
Children peer into a stuffed specimen of a 4.2-meter-long megamouth shark at Tokai University Marine Science Museum in Sizuoka, 200km west of Tokyo, 18 August 2004. The unique species of shark is one of only 21 of its type that have been caught since 1976 off Hawaii. The world's first stuffed megamouth, which was caught 07 August 2003 near Shizuoka, is on display until 31 August at the museum. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images)
Kristina Skorbach
5/8/2014
Updated:
7/18/2015

The recently-captured rare megamouth shark off the coast of Japan, made history as it was the 58th time in history that one if its kind was seen by man. On Thursday scientists cut open the13-foot long, 1,500 pound female shark, where she was brought ashore by fishermen.

The Japan Daily Press reported that the fish was caught from the depths of 2,600 ft. 

Onlookers gathered around the Marine Science Museum in Shizuoka City where she was cut open.

The megamouths are considered the most rarest of fish and can reach lengths of 117 feet. They have bulbous heads, short snouts, and broad mouths, which is where their name is derived from. 

The species is said to be docile with filter-feeders for teeth, and large blubbery mouths. They primarily feed on krill, which is a small crustacean, but are prey to sperm whales. 

Other megamouths have been caught off the shores of California, Japan, Hawaii, Taiwan, Indonesia, Brazil, Eduador, Senegal, South Africa, Mexico, and Australia, according to Florida Museum of Natural History