AB 11:225-228 (2011)  -  doi:10.3354/ab00311

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Electrosensory pore distribution and feeding in the megamouth shark Megachasma pelagios (Lamniformes: Megachasmidae)

Ryan M. Kempster*, Shaun P. Collin

The UWA Oceans Institute and the School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
*Email:

ABSTRACT: The megamouth shark Megachasma pelagios is a rare, large filter-feeding shark. Little to nothing is known of its sensory biology, particularly in relation to its feeding behaviour. We describe the abundance and distribution of ampullary pores over the head and propose that both the spacing and orientation of electrosensory pores enables M. pelagios to use passive electroreception to maximise feeding efficiency.


KEY WORDS: Ampullae of Lorenzini · Electroreception · Filter feeding · Megamouth shark


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Cite this article as: Kempster RM, Collin SP (2011) Electrosensory pore distribution and feeding in the megamouth shark Megachasma pelagios (Lamniformes: Megachasmidae). Aquat Biol 11:225-228

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Published in AB Vol. 11, No. 3. Online publication date: January 06, 2011
Print ISSN: 1864-7782; Online ISSN: 1864-7790
Copyright © 2011 Inter-Research.