| Echinorhinus Temporal range: 84–0 Ma[1] Campanian to Present |
|
|---|---|
| Bramble shark, Echinorhinus brucus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Order: | Squaliformes |
| Family: | Echinorhinidae T. N. Gill, 1862 |
| Genus: | Echinorhinus Blainville, 1816 |
Echinorhinus is a genus of squaliform sharks, the only extant genus in the family Echinorhinidae. The name is from Greek echinos meaning "spiny" and rhinos meaning "nose". Both species are uncommon, little known sharks. They are found worldwide in cold temperate to tropical seas down to 900 metres (3,000 ft) depth.[2]
This genus includes two extant species characterized by a short nose, rough spiny dermal denticles, no anal fin, and two small spineless dorsal fins. Both species are relatively large sharks, at 3.1 metres (10 ft) and 4 metres (13 ft) in body length. They feed on smaller fish, and on crabs and cephalopods. They are ovoviviparous, with the mother retaining the egg-cases inside her body until they hatch.[2]