Sailfin roughshark
Grey Meersau ( Oxynotus paradoxus )
The Grey Meersau ( Oxynotus paradoxus ), also known as sailfin - Meersau because of their high fins, a shark species from the genus of pig sharks ( Oxynotus ). The range of the species is located in the eastern Atlantic and extends from the west coast of the British Isles over the Bay of Biscay and the coast of the Iberian Peninsula to the coast of Senegal.
Appearance and characteristics
The Grey Meersau is an unusual -looking shark with a high, triangular in cross-section body. It reaches a maximum length of 120 centimeters, but remains usually at a length of 85 centimeters. The fish are uniformly gray or gray- brown in color, without any markings. An anal fin is absent, the two very tall dorsal fin is preceded by the proper typical spines. The first dorsal fin is above the pectorals, the second on the pelvic fins. The dorsal fins are about twice as high as their spines. Like all species of the family owned pets five gill slits and an injection hole behind the eye.
Way of life
The Grey Meersau lives close to the ground on the continental slopes at depths of 265-720 meters. It feeds probably mainly of small, ground-dwelling invertebrates and fish. It is like other species of the order viviparous ( ovoviviparous ), the boys are 25 cm long at birth.
Endangering
The IUCN states in their Red List, that there are insufficient data available to assess the level of danger of Oxynotus paradoxus .. The species is bycatch in this fishery.