In November 1994, a megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios) was stranded in Hakata Bay, Japan. At the time, it was the first female, and only fifth example of the species, to found. The carcass was transported to Marine World umino-nakamichi. An international team of researchers was quickly assembled to study the specimen and a symposium held the following March. By late 1995, manuscripts, which were to form the core of this book, were collected and the review process commenced.

Biology of the Megamouth Shark, published by Tokai University Press (1997), includes 21 papers by over four dozen contributors and is well illustrated. As might be suggested by the title, the vast majority of the research is directed to soft body parts (organs, tissue, etc.) which may hold minimal interest to those interested in the fossil history. However, several papers are either broadly interesting or directly relevant.

• Yano, K., Yabumoto, Y., Ogawa, H., Hasegawa, T., Naganobu, K., Matumura, S., Misuna, Y., & Matumura, K.   X-ray Observations on Vertebrae and Dentition of a Megamouth Shark, Megachasma pelagios, from Hakata Bay Japan.
   
• Yabumoto, Y., Goto, M., Yano, K., & Uyeno, T.   Dentition of a Female Megamouth Shark, Megachasma pelagios, Collected from Hakata Bay Japan.
   
• Yano, K., Goto, M., & Yabumoto, Y.   Dermal and Mucous Denticles of a Female Megamouth, Megachasma pelagios, from Hakata Bay Japan.
   
• Morrissey, J., Dunn, K., & Mulé.   The Phylogenetic Position of Megachasma pelagios Inferred from mtDNA Sequence Data.
   
• Martin, A & Naylor, G.   Independent Origins of Filter-Feeding in Megamouth and Basking Sharks (Order Lamniformes) Inferred from Phylogenetic Analysis of Cytochrome b Gene Sequences.
   
• Nakaya, K., Yano, K., Takada, K., & Hiruda, H.   Morphology of the First Female Megamouth Shark, Megachasma pelagios (Elasmobranchii: Megachasmidae), Landed at Fukuoka, Japan.

Ordering Information

I have contacted Koji Takada, and he advises me that the price of the book is US$ 60.00 ($45 + 15.00 in postage). Marine World Umino-nakamichi does not have the capacity to accept credit cards, and he indicated that the payment needs to be made in cash. I would suggest that interested readers confirm the details directly with him.