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What the sources say

Megamouth SharkMegachasma pelagios

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Megamouth Shark profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 42 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Kyne, Liu & Simpfendorfer 2019

Kyne, Liu & Simpfendorfer (2019). Megachasma pelagios. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T39338A124402302.

The page saysThe IUCN Red List rates it Least Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).

Source
02

Duchatelet et al. 2020

Duchatelet et al. (2020). The megamouth shark, Megachasma pelagios, is not a luminous species. PLOS ONE.

The page saysA 2020 study found no light organs in any of the skin it examined, strong evidence that the shark is not luminous.
The source saysthe absence of any typical light organ (shark photophore) in all studied skin zones, highly suggest that the megamouth shark is not a luminous speciesNote: Year 2020 is the paper's publication year (received 2020 Jul 27, accepted 2020 Oct 29).
The page saysThe band's denticles, tiny tooth-like scales, may instead reflect glow from bioluminescent plankton.
The source saysmight rather reflect the light produced by bioluminescent planktonic preys, thanks to the denticles of the white band
The page saysResearchers who examined its skin in 2020 found no sign that it emits light.
The source saysResults demonstrated ( i ) the absence of either extrinsic or intrinsic luminescenceNote: Year 2020 is the paper's publication year.
The page saysIts pale snout band may simply bounce back the glow of the luminous plankton it eats.
The source saysmight rather reflect the light produced by bioluminescent planktonic preys, thanks to the denticles of the white band

Source
03

Yu et al. 2021

Yu et al. (2021). Spatial-Temporal Distribution of Megamouth Shark, Megachasma pelagios, Inferred from over 250 Individuals Recorded in the Three Oceans. Animals.

The page saysA 2021 study counted 261 landing and stranding records worldwide, with the majority from the western North Pacific.
The source saysA total of 261 landing/stranding records were examined ... The majority of M. pelagios are found in the western North Pacific Ocean (>5° N).Note: Year 2021 is the paper's publication year.
The page saysA 2021 study of global records counted 261 landings and strandings.
The source saysA total of 261 landing/stranding records were examinedNote: Year 2021 is the paper's publication year.
The page saysa 2021 study notes that what is known of its biology and fisheries is still very limited
The source saysits biological and fishery information is still very limitedNote: Year 2021 is the paper's publication year.

Source
04

Liu et al. 2018

Liu et al. (2018). Genetic diversity and connectivity of the megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios). PeerJ.

The page saysScientists named it in 1983
The source sayswas described as a new species in 1983
The page saysA study of 27 megamouths caught off eastern Taiwan
The source saysTissues from 27 megamouth sharks caught by drift nets off the Hualien coast (eastern Taiwan)
The page saysweighed 210 to 1,147 kg
The source saystotal weights ranging 210–1,147 kg
The page saysIt was a new species.
The source sayswas described as a new species in 1983

Source
05

Florida Museum of Natural History

Megachasma pelagios. Florida Museum of Natural History.

The page saysScientists believe the shark swims slowly through a swarm of krill (small shrimp-like crustaceans) with its mouth open, pushes its jaws forward and expands its mouth cavity to suck the prey in.
The source saysScientists believe that this shark swims slowly through aggregations of euphausiid shrimp (“krill”) and other small prey with its mouth open (A). Protruding its jaws and expanding the buccal cavity in order to suck the prey inside (B).
The page saysThen it shuts its mouth and squeezes the water out through its gills.
The source saysThe mouth is closed and the jaws retracted. This action decreases the pharyngeal volume and makes possible the expelling of water through the gill openings
The page saysEach jaw has about fifty rows of small teeth, but only three rows are in use.
The source saysapproximately fifty rows of small and numerous teeth on each jaw, but only three rows are functional
The page saysA white band runs across the front of its snout.
The source saysWhite band on the anterior surface of the snout.
The page saysits skin is very loose and its skeleton is soft and poorly calcified
The source saysa soft, and poorly calcified cartilaginous skeleton; very soft, loose skin
The page saysThe Florida Museum calls it a poor swimmer.
The source saysthe megamouth is considered to be a poor swimmer
The page saysOne tracked shark stayed at 12 to 25 m during the night, then dived to 120 to 160 m at dawn and returned to shallow water at dusk.
The source saysIt remained at a depth of 12 – 25 m (39 – 82 ft.) during the night, then dove to 120–160 m (390–520 ft.), at dawn and returned to shallow waters at dusk.
The page saysIndian, Pacific and Atlantic
The source saysLocations include Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans.
The page saysThought to cruise through krill swarms and suck prey in by pushing its jaws forward
The source saysScientists believe that this shark swims slowly through aggregations of euphausiid shrimp (“krill”) and other small prey with its mouth open (A). Protruding its jaws and expanding the buccal cavity in order to suck the prey inside (B).
The page saysA filter-feeding shark
The source saysAll analyzed specimens presented euphausiid shrimp in the stomach, indicating a filter-feeding habit
The page saysSpread across three oceans
The source saysLocations include Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans.
The page saysA tracked megamouth stayed 12 to 25 m down through the night, then went to 120 to 160 m at dawn
The source saysIt remained at a depth of 12 – 25 m (39 – 82 ft.) during the night, then dove to 120–160 m (390–520 ft.), at dawn and returned to shallow waters at dusk.Note: vibe.reason

Source
06

Australian Museum

Megamouth Shark, Megachasma pelagios. Australian Museum.

The page saysIn November 1976, a research ship hauled in two parachute sea anchors off Hawaii and found a 4.46 m shark tangled in one.
The source saysThe first Megamouth specimen known was collected off Kaneohe, Hawaii on 15 November 1976. The research vessel AFB-14 of the Naval Undersea Centre had deployed two large parachutes as sea anchors ... When these parachutes were hauled aboard, the crew found a 4.46 m long male Megamouth Shark entangled in one of them.
The page saysA filter-feeding shark first known from 1976, when one got tangled in a research ship's parachute anchor
The source saysThe first Megamouth specimen known was collected off Kaneohe, Hawaii on 15 November 1976. The research vessel AFB-14 of the Naval Undersea Centre had deployed two large parachutes as sea anchors ... the crew found a 4.46 m long male Megamouth Shark entangled in one of them.

Source
07

FishBase

Megachasma pelagios, Megamouth shark. FishBase.

The page saysGreek for "yawning hole" or "open mouth"
The source saysmegas (Gr.), large; chasma (Gr.), yawning hole or open mouth
The page saysThe mouth is very broad, and its corners reach back past the eyes.
The source saysMouth very broad and terminal on head, with corner extending behind the eyes
The page saysThe jaws are huge and can slide forward.
The source saysJaws huge, protrusible anteriorly
The page saysIts prey includes krill, copepods (tiny crustaceans) and jellyfish.
The source saysFeeds on planktivorous prey such as euphausiid shrimps, copepods and jellyfish
The page saysPlankton such as krill, copepods and jellyfish
The source saysFeeds on planktivorous prey such as euphausiid shrimps, copepods and jellyfish
The page saysFishBase gives a maximum length of 709 cm for a female, about 23 feet.
The source says709.0 cm TL (female)Note: 709 cm is about 23.3 ft; 'Max length' line on the page.
The page saysThe megamouth lives in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans, between about 40 degrees north and 40 degrees south.
The source saysDeep-water; 40°N - 40°S, 180°W - 180°ENote: Oceans from the Florida Museum page: 'Locations include Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans.'
The page saysusually 120 to 166 m down
The source saysdepth range 5 - 600 m (Ref. 58302 ), usually 120 - 166 m
The page saysassessed in 2018
The source saysLeast Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 09 November 2018Note: FishBase cites Red List version 2025-2 (Global), so 2018 is still the current assessment.
The page saysThe longest on FishBase is a 709 cm female, roughly 23 feet.
The source says709.0 cm TL (female)Note: 709 cm is about 23.3 ft; 'Max length' line on the page.
The page saysIts record for a male or unsexed shark is shorter, at 549 cm.
The source saysMax length : 549 cm TL male/unsexed
The page saysFishBase rates its threat to humans as harmless.
The source saysThreat to humans Harmless
The page saysIt feeds on plankton such as krill, copepods and jellyfish
The source saysFeeds on planktivorous prey such as euphausiid shrimps, copepods and jellyfish
The page saysits teeth are very small
The source saysTeeth very small, numerous, hooked
The page saysIts teeth are small.
The source saysTeeth very small, numerous, hooked

Source
08

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Megachasma pelagios (Megamouth Shark). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysAnimal Diversity Web names cookiecutter sharks as a predator, and in 1998 three sperm whales were seen attacking a 5 m megamouth in Indonesian waters.
The source saysThe only recorded predator of megamouth sharks is cookiecutter sharks ( Isistius brasiliensis ). In 1998, three sperm whales ( Physeter catodon ) were seen attacking a 5-m-long megamouth shark in Indonesian waters

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.