Rare megamouth shark caught off Japan coast

SHIZUOKA, Japan, May 8 (UPI) -- More than 1,500 people recently visited the Marine Science Museum in Shizuoka, Japan, where scientists dissected a 1,500-pound megamouth shark caught last month.

The rare megamouth shark, characterized by its bulbous head and enormous mouth, can grow up to 18 feet long.

First discovered in 1976, they live in deep water and feed off plankton, using their large, open mouths to catch filter food through their gills.

Shizuoka's female megamouth marks only the 58th recorded sighting of the species.

It was found off the coast of the city at a depth of 2,600 feet and is now on display at the museum.