Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus) fish species and information / pictures of Bluntnose sixgill shark - Hexanchus griseus

Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Hexanchus griseus

Common Name
Bluntnose sixgill shark

Biology
Depth range reported at 0m-2000m. A deepwater species of the outer continental and insular shelves and upper slopes (Ref. 6871). Near bottom, occasionally pelagic, adults usually below 91 m (Ref. 58302). Juveniles may be found close inshore (Ref. 6871). Found on the bottom by day, moving to the surface at night to feed, and where it may take longlines set for other species (Ref. 45445). Depth distribution related to growth and temperature, with juveniles having most shallow records and from colder, poleward regions (Ref. 58302). Feeds on a wide range of marine organisms, including other sharks, rays, chimaeras, bony fish, squids, crabs, shrimps, carrion, and even seals. Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205), with 22 to 108 pups in a litter (Ref. 247). Marketed fresh, frozen, or dried salted; also utilized as a source of oil and fishmeal. Not known to have attacked peo

Classification

Classified By
Bonnaterre, 1788
Class
Sharks and Rays (Elasmobranchii)
Order
Frill and cow sharks (Hexanchiformes)
Family
Cow sharks (Hexanchidae)

Distribution

Region
Circumglobal
Distribution
Circumglobal: In tropical and temperate waters; (Ref. 13573). Western Atlantic: North Carolina to Florida (USA) and northern Gulf of Mexico to northern Argentina. Eastern Atlantic: Iceland and Norway to Namibia, including the Mediterranean. Indian Ocean: Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, and Arabian Sea (Ref.85183). Western Pacific: eastern Japan to New Zealand and Hawaii. Eastern Pacific: Aleutian Islands, Alaska to Baja California, Mexico; also Chile . Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea (Ref. 26139, Ref. 41819).
Range
65°N - 48°S, 180°W - 180°E

Environment

Climate
Subtropical
Water Temperature From
Unknown °C
Water Temperature To
Unknown °C
Depth From - meters
1 m
Depth To - meters
2500 m
Zone
bathydemersal
Environment
Marine; bathydemersal; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 1 - 2500 m (Ref. 58302), usually 180 - 1100 m (Ref. 45445)
Trophic Level
4.28 s.e. 0.47 Based on diet studies.
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
True
Occurs in Brackish water
False
Occurs in Fresh Water
False
Occurs on Reefs
False
Is kept in Aquariums
False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
482 cm
Common Length
300 cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.8281 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Vulnerability
Very high vulnerability (84 of 100)
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec= 22-108)
Threat To Humans
  Poisonous to eat (Ref. 4690)
IUCN Red List Status
  Near Threatened (NT)