Sharpnose sevengill shark

Taxobox
name = Sharpnose sevengill shark
fossil_range = Fossil range|61|0 Danian to Present [cite journal
last = Sepkoski
first = Jack
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = A compendium of fossil marine animal genera (Chondrichthyes entry)
journal = Bulletins of American Paleontology
volume = 364
issue =
pages = p.560
publisher =
location =
date = 2002
url = http://strata.ummp.lsa.umich.edu/jack/showgenera.php?taxon=575&rank=class
doi =
id =
accessdate = 2008-01-09 ]
status = NT | status_system = IUCN3.1
trend = unknown


image_caption = Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Chondrichthyes
subclassis = Elasmobranchii
ordo = Hexanchiformes
familia = Hexanchidae
genus = "Heptranchias"
species = "H. perlo"
range_

---

range_map_width = 200px
range_map_caption = Range of sharpnose sevengill shark (in blue)
binomial = "Heptranchias perlo"
binomial_authority = (Bonnaterre, 1788)

The sharpnose sevengill shark, "Heptranchias perlo", is a big eyed deepwater shark with seven gill slits on each side of its body, and is the only species in the genus "Heptranchias". It is also known as the one-finned shark, the perlon shark, and the sevengill cow shark.

Physical characteristics

The sharpnose sevengill shark has a narrow head, and a single dorsal fin. Its tail is about half the length of its body, a third of its overall length. The shark's maximum length is 137 cm. Females are usually about 90 cm and males are about 85 cm. At birth, the shark is 26 cm. Its colour can be grey, olive, or dun. The tips of juvenile's fins are darkly colored. This species' lower jaw contains comb-like teeth.

Distribution

Atlantic coast from North Carolina to Florida, and Brazil and Argentina, the Gulf of Mexico and Cuba, Africa from Angola north to Morocco, most of the Mediterranean west of Greece, Mozambique, southwestern India, southern China around Hainan, southern Japan around Kyūshū, eastern Java, southern Australia

Habits and habitat

This deepwater shark is usually found between 27 and 1,000 m but can be found near the surface. The sharpnose sevengill shark is Ovoviviparous. It is not a danger to humans unless caught while fishing when it will bite.

Diet

The sharpnose sevengill shark feeds on bony fish, rays, small sharks, squid and crustaceans.

ee also

* Hexanchiformes

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is near threatened
*
*
* FAO Species Catalogue Volume 4 Parts 1 and 2 Sharks of the World

External links

* [http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/SnoseSgillShark/SnoseSgillShark.html The sharpnose sevengill shark]
* [http://gerber.iwarp.com/sharp7.htm Sharpnose sevengill shark]