Megachasma
Genus of sharks
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Megachasma is a genus of mackerel sharks. It is usually considered to be the sole genus in the family Megachasmidae, though suggestion has been made that it may belong in the family Cetorhinidae, of which the basking shark is the sole extant member.[1] Megachasma is known from a single living species, Megachasma pelagios.[2][3]
| Megachasma Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| |
| Megachasma pelagios | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Division: | Selachii |
| Order: | Lamniformes |
| Family: | Megachasmidae Taylor, Compagno & Struhsaker, 1983 |
| Genus: | Megachasma Taylor, Compagno & Struhsaker, 1983 |
| Species | |
In addition to the living M. pelagios, two extinct megamouth species – the Priabonian Megachasma alisonae and the Oligocene–Miocene Megachasma applegatei – have been discovered from fossilized tooth remains.[4][5][6] An early ancestor of M. pelagios was reported from the Burdigalian of Belgium.[7] However, the Cretaceous-aged M. comanchensis was reclassified as an odontaspid shark in the genus Pseudomegachasma, and is unrelated to the megamouth shark despite similar teeth morphology.[8]
Megachasma is primarily found in temperate and tropical waters among the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans. The top sighting spots are Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines.[9]
