PORT PHILLIP BAY


Sharpnose Sevengill Shark 

Heptranchias perlo (Bonnaterre, 1788)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Vertebrae: 143-161 (precaudal 89-95)
Jaw teeth (upper): 8 to 10-9 to 12:10 to 12-9 or 10
Jaw teeth (lower): 9 or 10-5-1-5-8 to 10

A detailed description of mersitics is in:
Gomon. M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) (2008) Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Order level detail.
Primitive sharks with 6 to 7 gill slits, a single dorsal fin and an anal fin. The group includes the frill sharks, the six-gill and seven-gill sharks.

Family level detail.
Medium to large sharks with 6-7 gill slits, a distinct sub-terminal notch on the tail, a single spineless dorsal fin, and the nostrils are not connected to the mouth.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Chondrichthyes
Subclass:
Elasmobranchii
Order:
Hexanchiformes
Family:
Hexanchidae
Genus:
Heptranchias
Species:
perlo

General Description

Medium-sized slender sharks with 7 pairs of gill slits, a single small dorsal fin, a narrow head with a pointed snout, and pelvic and anal fins close together. Uniform brown to brownish-grey on top, paler below; tips of dorsal and caudal fins dark; pectoral and pelvic fins with pale hind margins. To 1.4 m.

Biology

Feeds mostly on fishes, crustaceans and cephalopods. Females give birth to live young.

Habitat

Usually in continental shelf and upper slope depths, although also found inshore, to a depth of 1000 m.

Open water

Distribution guide

Circumglobal. Widespread in Australia.

Species Group

Sharks and rays › Sharks

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

1.4 m

Diet

Carnivore

Harmful

Although not usually considered dangerous to humans, has the potential to bite.

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Near Threatened

Author

article author Bray, D.J.

Di Bray is a Senior Collection Manager of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Gomon, M.F.

Dr. Martin Gomon is a Senior Curator of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. & Gomon, M.F., 2011, Sharpnose Sevengill Shark, Heptranchias perlo, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 28 Apr 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/6565

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