Ecology of Megachasma pelagios
 
Main Ref. Last, P.R. and J.D. Stevens, 1994
Remarks Oceanic, possibly occurring in depths between 150 and 1,000 m (Ref. 6871). Feeds on planktivorous prey such as euphausiid shrimps, copepods and jellyfish (Ref. 6871). May also eat small midwater fishes. Possibly less active than the basking and whale sharks (Ref. 6871). Its feeding habits and habitat suggest that it may be a rare catch in the future.

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Marine - Neritic Marine - Oceanic Brackishwater Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies
  • supra-littoral zone
  • littoral zone
  • sublittoral zone
  • epipelagic
  • mesopelagic
  • epipelagic
  • abyssopelagic
  • hadopelagic
  • estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas
  • mangroves
  • marshes/swamps
  • rivers/streams
  • lakes/ponds
  • caves
  • exclusively in caves
Highighted items on the list are where Megachasma pelagios may be found.

Habitat

Substrate
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref.
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

Feeding

Feeding type mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type Ref. Cortés, E., 1999
Feeding habit filtering plankton
Feeding habit Ref. Last, P.R. and J.D. Stevens, 1994
Trophic Level(s)
Estimation method Original sample Unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition 3.38 0.22 3.35 0.36 Troph of juv./adults from 1 study.
From individual food items 3.68 0.44 Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref. Cortés, E., 1999
(e.g. 346)
(e.g. oophagy)
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