A megamouth shark that stranded in the Philippines is the first pregnant individual ever recorded in this rare species.
The finding confirms that megamouths (Megachasma pelagios) are ovoviviparous: their eggs develop inside the mother’s body and she gives birth to live young.
Discovered by scientists in 1976, megamouths are filter-feeding sharks that live in the deep sea. Fewer than 120 individuals have ever been captured or observed.
A 5.6-metre-long female stranded in the Philippines’ Aurora province on 14 November. One pup was found…
