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Definition of megamouth shark
megamouth shark
Plural:megamouth sharks
megamouth shark Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
9
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
An extremely rare, large species of deep-water shark (Megachasma pelagios) characterized by a disproportionately massive head and mouth, which it uses to filter-feed on plankton and jellyfish.
Example
"Since its unexpected discovery in 1976, only a few dozen specimens of the megamouth shark have ever been observed by marine biologists."
Word Origin & Etymology
Discovered in 1976 off the coast of Hawaii, the common name refers to the animal's disproportionately large mouth, while its scientific name, Megachasma pelagios, translates to 'giant yawning cavern of the open sea'.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Megamouth shark. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/megamouth shark