Bluntnose sixgill shark

Stump nose Sechskiemerhai ( Hexanchus griseus )

The stump nose Sechskiemerhai ( Hexanchus griseus ) belongs to the order Hexanchiformes.

Appearance

The up more than 5 meter shark is of moderate shape. The dorsal fin is located far back. The heterocerke tail has a large upper and a very small lower lobe. The name derives from the six gill slits, all located in front of the base of the pectoral fin and from front to back are getting smaller. The bluntnose sixgill has large, green fluorescent eyes, mouth column is long and wide. He is from light gray to black, brownish or yellow ocher color. The belly and the underside of the pectoral fins are bright Sometimes the fins have white rear edges.

The teeth of the upper jaw are small and pointed. In addition to a main peak there may be up to three subsidiary peaks. In the lower jaw teeth are comb-shaped and carry up to 11 minor peaks, which become ever smaller towards the rear. They are larger than that of the upper jaw.

Dissemination

The stump nose Sechskiemerhai is spread worldwide, in the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian Ocean and in the Mediterranean. He keeps himself preferably near the bottom on continental slopes and island bases at depths from 0 to 2500 meters.

Way of life

The sharks are nocturnal, slow swimmers. They feed on bony fishes, smaller cartilaginous fishes, crustaceans, cephalopods and other molluscs, sea urchins, carrion and marine mammals. Sechskiemerhaie are viviparous. You get up to 100 pups per litter. Attacks on humans are not known. According to UNCLOS, this species is classified as "Highly migratory species".