| Family: |
Somniosidae (Sleeper sharks) |
| Max. size: |
131 cm TL (male/unsexed); 170 cm TL (female) |
| Environment: |
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 219 - 1550 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: southern distribution, discontinuous across Pacific and Indian Oceans. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 2-2; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. Dark brown or blackish in color, dorsal fins with fairly prominent fin spines, moderately long snout, lanceolate upper teeth and bladelike lower teeth with short, oblique cusps, stocky body that tapers abruptly from pectoral region, and moderately large tricuspidate and tricarinate lateral trunk denticles (Ref. 247). |
| Biology: |
A rare species inhabiting lower continental slopes (Ref. 26346), also on insular slopes in large schools near the bottom which are segregated according to size and sex, and feeds on cephalopods and bony fishes (Ref. 247). Up to 36 young in a litter, ths size at birth between 32 and 36 cm (Ref. 247). Used for fishmeal and liver oil (Ref. 6871). Minimum depth from Ref. 247. Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 04 July 2017 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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