A creature straight out of a Jules Verne fever dream was discovered on the shores of the Philippines. The 15-foot-long male megamouth shark was discovered after washing up dead on a beach in the province of Albay on Jan. 28.
Scientists are claiming this is the 66th confirmed instance in which humans have ever encountered the animal.
"Toothless"
Posted by Nonus Enolvus on Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Much about the megamouth species is unknown, as the creature itself was only confirmed to exist in 1976, when a U.S. Navy vessel caught one in its anchor. According to a 1990 study, the shark spends most of its time at depths of 400-500 meters.
The megamouth shark, which seems to have been named by an eight-year-old in 1996, has an oddly rubbery appearance. The specimen discovered in Albay was nicknamed "Toothless" for it's resemblance to the fictional creature in the How to Train Your Dragon series.
'Toothless,' the megamouth shark that washed ashore in Albay yesterday, is now stored in ice for further examination and final preservation under the care of Bfar Bikol.
Posted by Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines on Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Toothless is the 15th individual megamouth shark discovered in the Philippines and has been preserved on ice for study.
Rest in peace, Toothless, you terrifying sea beast.
Watch The Megamouth Shark on YouTube (Courtsy: Discovery)
[youtube height=”500″ width=”800″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHiL7MPAZ0g[/youtube]
Read Also: Killer Whale vs Great White Shark | Clash Of Titans
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