'Toothless' monster from the deep: Rare five meter megamouth shark, which can live for 100 years, has been caught by fishermen

  • Fishermen in the Philippines have discovered a rare megamouth shark 
  • The massive 15-foot adult male shark was found dead 
  • There have only been 63 confirmed sightings of this shark previously
  • He has been named 'toothless' by locals 

By Sarah Carty for Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

Fishermen have discovered a rare megamouth shark trapped in a net at a beach in the Philippines.

The massive 15-foot adult male shark was dead when it was found beached on the Barangay Marigondon shores in between the Albay and Masbate provinces. 

The extraordinary shark has been named toothless by locals but interestingly has an abundance of teeth, which are lined in about 50 rows.  

There have been a number of sightings in recent years, including in 2015 when fishermen in the Philippines discovered one of the creatures had washed up on shore (pictured) 

Fishermen have discovered a rare megamouth shark washed up at a beach in the Philippines

The massive 15-foot adult male shark was dead when it was found beached on the Barangay Marigondon shores in between the Albay and Masbate provinces

The massive 15-foot adult male shark was dead when it was found beached on the Barangay Marigondon shores in between the Albay and Masbate provinces

The extraordinary shark has been named toothless by locals but interestingly has an abundance of teeth, which are lined in about 50 rows

The extraordinary shark has been named toothless by locals but interestingly has an abundance of teeth, which are lined in about 50 rows

With only 64 previous sightings of this type of shark ever recorded, it is thought scientists will be able to get a close-up look at the the creatures like never before

With only 64 previous sightings of this type of shark ever recorded, it is thought scientists will be able to get a close-up look at the the creatures like never before

The shark's cause of death has yet to be determined but it is thought it's body will likely go on display at Albay Parks and Wildlife Centre in the Philippines

The shark's cause of death has yet to be determined but it is thought it's body will likely go on display at Albay Parks and Wildlife Centre in the Philippines

With only 64 previous sightings of this type of shark ever recorded, it is thought scientists will be able to get a close-up look at the the creatures like never before. 

The shark's cause of death has yet to be determined but it is thought it's body will likely go on display at Albay Parks and Wildlife Centre in the Philippines.

The megamouth shark trolls the seabed for small bits of food, catching them with their massive mouths and capturing them in their jaws. Up until now, scientists have had limited information regarding the sharks, as they are very rarely seen by humans. 

The megamouth shark trolls the seabed for small bits of food, catching them with their massive mouths and capturing them in their jaws

The megamouth shark trolls the seabed for small bits of food, catching them with their massive mouths and capturing them in their jaws

Up until now, scientists have had limited information regarding the sharks, as they are very rarely seen by humans

Up until now, scientists have had limited information regarding the sharks, as they are very rarely seen by humans

Speaking to The Washington Post , Christopher Bird, a Ph.D. student who studies deep-sea sharks at the University of Southampton in England, said we know so little about the sharks

Speaking to The Washington Post , Christopher Bird, a Ph.D. student who studies deep-sea sharks at the University of Southampton in England, said we know so little about the sharks

'It wasn't discovered really until 1976. It's only really seen when it's accidentally caught in fishermen's nets or when it is stranded on beaches.''It's just a mystery', he said

'It wasn't discovered really until 1976. It's only really seen when it's accidentally caught in fishermen's nets or when it is stranded on beaches.''It's just a mystery', he said

Speaking to The Washington Post, Christopher Bird, a Ph.D. student who studies deep-sea sharks at the University of Southampton in England, said we know so little about the sharks. 

'It wasn't discovered really until 1976. It's only really seen when it's accidentally caught in fishermen's nets or when it is stranded on beaches.'

'It's just a mystery', he said.

The sharks have only ever been sighted when they come to the surface in the search for food. 

A megamouth shark can reach to a maximum length of 17 feet (5.2 metres) with a life span of 100 years.

 It resides in deep waters but rises towards the surface at night to feed or eat plankton. 

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Albay province will investigate to determine the cause of the shark's death. 

The sharks have only ever been sighted when they come to the surface in the search for food

The sharks have only ever been sighted when they come to the surface in the search for food

Fishermen in the Philippines hoisted in the shark, which was a massive 15-feet

Fishermen in the Philippines hoisted in the shark, which was a massive 15-feet

Fishermen used a stretcher with steel bars to carry a rare 15-foot megamouth shark which was trapped in a fisherman's net  

Fishermen used a stretcher with steel bars to carry a rare 15-foot megamouth shark which was trapped in a fisherman's net  

 

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