Little sleeper shark

Taxobox
name = Little sleeper shark
status =
trend =


regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Chondrichthyes
subclassis = Elasmobranchii
ordo = Squaliformes
familia = Dalatiidae
genus = "Somniosus"
species = "S. rostratus"
range_

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range_map_width = 200px
range_map_caption = Range of the little sleeper shark (in blue)
binomial = "Somniosus rostratus"
binomial_authority = (Risso, 1827)

The little sleeper shark, "Somniosus rostratus", is a sleeper shark of the family Dalatiidae found in the northeast Atlantic, western Mediterranean, and western Pacific around New Zealand, at depths of between 200 and 1,000 m. Its length is up to 1.43 m.

The little sleeper shark is grey or brown in color, with a short, rounded snout, equal-sized dorsal fins, the first of which is closer to the pectorals than the pelvic fins, long ventral caudal lobe, and short keels on the base of the caudal fin.

It is a rare species found on the outer continental shelves and upper slopes. It probably feeds on deepwater bottom fishes and invertebrates. Reproduction is ovoviviparous, the length at birth of the pups is 21 to 28 cm. It is utilized as fishmeal and possibly as food fish.

References

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