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Megachasma

Chondrichthyes - Lamniformes - Megachasmidae

Taxonomy
Megachasma was named by Taylor et al. (1983). It is extant.

It was assigned to Megachasmidae by Compagno (2005), Shimada et al. (2014), Landini et al. (2019).

Entered
by M. Uhen on 2006-07-28; modified by M. Clapham on 2026-01-24

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1983Megachasma Taylor et al.
2005Megachasma Compagno
2014Megachasma Shimada et al.
2019Megachasma Landini et al. p. 358

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
classChondrichthyes
RankNameAuthor
infraclassElasmobranchii(Bonaparte 1838)
Euselachii()
NeoselachiiCompagno 1977
superorderGaleomorphiiCompagno 1973
orderLamniformesBerg 1958
familyMegachasmidae
genusMegachasmaTaylor et al. 1983

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

G. Megachasma Taylor et al. 1983
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Megachasma alisonae Shimada and Ward 2016
Megachasma applegatei Shimada et al. 2014
Megachasma pelagios Taylor et al. 1983 [megamouth shark]
Diagnosis
No diagnoses are available
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: marinesubp
Locomotion: fast-movingf
Life habit: nektonicf
Diet: suspension feederf
Diet 2: carnivoref
Created: 2014-09-12 14:26:41
Modified: 2014-09-12 14:26:59
Source: f = family, subp = subphylum
References: Purdy 1988, Carroll 1988

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Priabonian to the top of the Gelasian or 37.71000 to 1.80000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 33.9 Ma

Collections (14 total)


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Priabonian37.71 - 33.9Denmark M. alisonae (277503)
Chattian27.3 - 23.04USA (Oregon) M. applegatei (45788)
Chattian27.3 - 23.04USA (California) M. applegatei (11601)
Aquitanian23.04 - 20.45USA (California) M. applegatei (58899 169441)
Aquitanian23.04 - 20.45USA (Oregon) M. applegatei (169440)
Aquitanian - Langhian23.04 - 13.82USA (North Carolina) M. sp. (48887)
Miocene - Gelasian23.04 - 1.8Japan (Okinawa) M. pelagios (227299)
Burdigalian20.45 - 15.98Peru (Ica) M. applegatei (100330)
Burdigalian20.45 - 15.98Belgium M. pelagios (277338)
Messinian7.246 - 5.333Chile M. sp. (114474)
Zanclean5.333 - 3.6USA (North Carolina) M. sp. (52582)
Zanclean5.333 - 3.6Italy (Tuscany) M. pelagios (228149)
Piacenzian - Zanclean3.6 - 3.6Belgium M. sp. (32146)