Sharpnose seven-gill shark
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 Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
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| Heptranchias perlo (Bonnaterre, 1788) |
The sharpnose seven-gill shark, Heptranchias perlo, is a big eyed deepwater shark with seven gill slits on each side of its body. It is also known as the one-finned shark, the perlon shark, and the sevengill cow shark.
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[edit] Physical Characteristics
The sharpnose seven-gill 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.
[edit] 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, Tasmania, and New Zealand.
[edit] Habits and Habitat
This deepwater shark is usually found between 27 and 1,000 m but can be found near the surface. The sharpnose seven-gill shark is Ovoviviparous. It is not a danger to humans unless caught while fishing when it will bite.
[edit] Diet
The sharpnose seven-gill shark feeds on bony fish, rays, small sharks, squid and crustaceans.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Paul & Fowler (2003). Heptranchias perlo. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is near threatened
- Heptranchias perlo (TSN 159844). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 23 January 2006.
- "Heptranchias perlo". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. 10 2005 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2005.
- FAO Species Catalogue Volume 4 Parts 1 and 2 Sharks of the World
