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Heptranchias perlo

(Seven-Gilled Mediterranean Shark)

Overview

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Family : Cow sharks ; Found on the outer continental and insular shelves and upper slopes in depths of 100 to 400[1][2], also inshore and down to 1,000 m [3][2]. Feeds on small sharks and rays , small bony fish, shrimps, crabs, lobsters, squid, and cuttlefish [4]. Very active and aggressive when captured and quick to bite but too small to be very dangerous to people[5]. Liver utilized as a source of oil . Maximum length may reach 214 cm, but this is uncertain.

Threatened
Threat status

Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in Afrikaans:

Skerpneus-Sewekiefhaai

Common Names in Albanian:

Peshkagen Me Dhembe, Peshkaqen Me Dhembe

Common Names in Arabic:

Kalb, Kelb Bhar, Qarsh

Common Names in Catalan:

Bocadolç, Bocadolça, Bocadol, Bocadola

Common Names in Croatian:

Volonja

Common Names in Czech:

Ostronosý Sedmižaberní žralok, Ostronosý Sedmižaberní žralok, Ostronos Sedmiabern ralok

Common Names in Danish:

Syvgællet Haj, Syvgllet Haj

Common Names in Dutch:

Spitskopkoehaai, Spitssnuitzevenkieuwshaai

Common Names in English:

One-Finned Shark, Perlon Shark, Seven-Gill Shark, Seven-Gilled Mediterranean Shark, Sevengill Cow Shark, Sevengilled Shark, Sharp Snouted Sevengill, Sharpnose Seven-Gill Shark, Sharpnose Sevengill Shark, Sharpsnout Sevengill Shark, Sharpsnouted Sevengill, Slender Sevengill, Slender Sevengill Shark, Snouted Sevengill Shark

Common Names in Finnish:

Kapeapäähai, Kapeaphai

Common Names in French:

Chien De Mer, Monge Gris, Mounge, Perlon, Perlon Cendre, Pesciu Angiu, Pesciu Boiu, Pesciu Mansu, Requin Plerin, Requin Perlon, Requin-Griset

Common Names in German:

Aschfarbener Siebenspalthai, Kammzähner, Kammzhner, Perlon, Siebenkiemiger Kammzähner, Siebenkiemiger Kammzhner, Spitzkopf-Siebenkiemenhai, Spitzkopfsiebenkiemer

Common Names in Greek:

Αλέτρι, Εφτακαρχαρίας, Καρχαρίας, Aletre, Eftakarcharias, Epta Carcharias, Αλέτρι, Εφτακαρχαρίας, Καρχαρίας

Common Names in Greek, Modern (1453):

Aletre, Eftakarcharias, Epta Carcharias, Εφτακαρχαρίας

Common Names in Hebrew:

Sheva-Zim

Common Names in Italian:

Anciò, Anci, Anciova, Angiolo, Cagna, Gatton Grigio, Grange, Manzo, Murruna, Notidano Cinereo, Pesce Alice, Pesce Angiò, Pesce Angi, Pesce Cagnolu, Pesce Vacca, Pesci Boe, Pesci Bove, Pisci Alici, Pisci Anciovu, Piscie Manze, Sadda Masculina, Squalo Manzo, Stiare, Vaccarello

Common Names in Japanese:

Edo-Aburazame

Common Names in Korean:

Kko-Ri-Gi-Rǔm-Sang-ǒ, Kko-Ri-Gi-Rum-Sang-O

Common Names in Maltese:

Morruna, Murrana Ta' Seba Gargi, Murruna, Murruna B' Seba' Gargi, Murruna Ta' Seba Gargi, Murruna Ta' Seba' Gargi

Common Names in Mandarin Chi:

Jian Wen Qi Sai Sha, Qi Sai Sha

Common Names in Mandarin Chinese:

尖吻七鰓鯊, 尖頭七鰓鮫, 油沙, 達氏七鰓鯊, 達氏七鰓鯊, 达氏七鳃鲨, Jian Wen Qi Sai Sha, Jiān Wěn Qī Sāi Shā, Qi Sai Sha, Qī Sāi Shā, 尖頭七鰓鮫, 尖吻七鰓鯊, 尖吻七鳃鲨, 尖头七鳃鲛, 油沙

Common Names in Portuguese:

Albafar Bravo, Archote, Bico Doce, Bico-Doce, Boca-Doce, Cação, Cação-Bruxa, Cao, Canhabota Boca Doce, Olho-Branco, Severino, Tubaro-De-Sete-Guelras, Tubarão-De-Sete-Guelras

Common Names in Russian:

акула семижаберная, акула семижаберная

Common Names in Serbian:

Pas Glavonja, Pas Volohja

Common Names in Spanish:

Alcatriña, Alcatria, Boca Dolça, Boca Dola, Bocadû, Bocad˚, Bocad, Bocadul, Bocadulce, Boquidulce, Cañabota, Cañabota Bocadulce, Caabota, Caabota Bocadulce, Peix Xovato, Perlon, Tiburón De 7 Branchias, Tiburón De Siete Agallas, Tiburón De Siete Branquias, Tiburón Gris, Tiburn De 7 Branchias, Tiburn De Puntas Blancas, Tiburn De Siete Agallas, Tiburn De Siete Branquias, Tiburn Gris

Common Names in Swedish:

Pärlhaj, Prlhaj

Common Names in Turkish:

Öküz Baligi, Yediyariklicanavar Baligi, kz Baligi

Description

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Family Hexanchidae

Distribution: Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Most species are deepwater inhabitants of the outer continental shelves and upper continental slopes down to at least 1875 m depth. Gill openings 6 in Hexanchus, 7 in Heptranchias and Notorynchus. Margin of first gill discontinuous across throat . Mouth subterminal with large, bladelike, comb-shaped teeth in lower jaw. One dorsal fin. Caudal fin with strong subterminal notch . Cow sharks are ovoviviparous and lack a yolk-sac placenta . They feed on relatively large marine organisms , including other sharks , rays , bony fish, crustacean and carrion . Species range in size from 140 to 480 cm. hexa- (gr.) = sixThe family Hexanchidae belongs to the Class Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) and the Order Hexanchiformes. It contains 3 genera and 4 species. It may be found in Marine environments and is primarily Marine. Members of this family are not used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are bearers. The main mode of swimming of adult fish in this family is subcarangiform. Members of this family have been dated back to the Jurassic period. Etymology of this family name : Greek, exa = six + Greek, agchone = to strangle

Physical Description

Species Heptranchias perlo

Distinctive Features: The moderately small sharpnose sevengill shark has a slender, fusiform body with a narrow, pointed head , large green eyes and a long narrow mouth .

It has seven pairs of gill slits in contrast to the five gills that most sharks possess. These gill opening extend down onto the throat . There is only one small dorsal fin which originates over the inner margins of the pelvic fins. The front edge of the dorsal fin is either straight or slightly convex while the apex is rounded and rear edge concave. The anal fin is also small in size with nearly straight edges, originating under the posterior end of the base of the dorsal. The pectoral fin is small with a weakly convex outer margin and narrowly rounded apex. The caudal axis is just slightly raised with a convex upper margin and a subterminal notch on the lower margin.



Coloration : Coloration of the sharpnose sevengill shark is brownish grey to olive on the dorsal surface, paling to a lighter ventral surface. Adults may have indistinct pale posterior margins on all fins as well as faint dark blotches on the body. Live specimens have large fluorescent green eyes. Juveniles may have dark blotches in the flank area as well as dark tips on the dorsal and caudal fins.

Dentition: The first 3 or 4 teeth in the upper jaw are narrow with a hook-like cusp and small lateral cusps . The subsequent teeth have one or two small cusps. The teeth in the lower jaw are broad and comb-shaped with the exception of a small symmetrical tooth located at the symphysis . There are 9-11 teeth on each side of the upper jaw and 5 teeth on each side of the symphysial tooth on the lower jaw.

Denticles : The dermal denticles overlap closely. Each denticle is longer than broad with a larger median tooth followed by a pair of smaller lateral teeth . The median ridge is distinct . The denticles are very thin and transparent, allowing the pigmentation of the skin to be visible. The denticles along the upper edge of the caudal fin are ovoid and lack marginal teeth. Three longitudinal ridges are present, forming a poorly defined crest .

Size, Age, and Growth: The smallest hexanchoid shark, the sharpnose sevengill shark grows to a maximum length of 4.5 feet (1.37 m ) total length for males and 4.6 feet (1.40 m) total length for females. However, this species is more commonly observed at lengths of 2-4 feet (.6-1.2 m). Males reach maturity at 2.4-2.8 feet (.75-.85 m) total length and females reach maturity at slightly larger sizes of 3.0-3.3 feet (.9-1.0 m) total length. Biologists have observed formation of mucus on the tips of the claspers on mature and subadult males. It is believed this indicates the onset of maturity and perhaps sexual activity.

Habitat

As a deepwater species , the sharpnose sevengill shark lives in waters on outer continental and insular shelves at depths from 89-3,280 feet (27-1000 m ). It is usually found on or near the bottom , although on occasion it is observed close to the surface. Its wide distribution range suggests that the sevengill shark is probably a strong swimmer.

Typically found in water with a depth of 0 to -5,730 meters (0 to -18,799 feet).[6]

Biome: Saltwater . Bathydemersal .

Ecology: Marine , demersal to semi-pelagic, probably ranging well into midwater , on the upper continental slope , most commonly taken in 300 to 600 m , sometimes deeper, recorded to 1,000 m. Possibly aggregated near seamounts . Occasionally reports from shallow water are possible misidentifications . Undoubtedly an agile, voracious predator on pelagic fishes , squids , and crustaceans. Maximum size approximately 140 cm. Matures 75 to 85 cm (males), 90 to 105 (Females). Ovoviviparous, number of young 6 to 20 in a litter , size at birth 25 cm. May breed year-round, but gestation time and reproductive periodicity unknown. Otherwise virtually no information on biology , intrinsic rate of increase etc.


List of Habitats :10.1Marine Oceanic - Epipelagic (0-200m)

Biology

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Diet

Although this shark is rather small in size, it is a voracious predator . As a generalist , it feeds on marine invertebrates including shrimp, crabs, lobsters, squid and cuttlefish as well as small bony fish, such as hake, and small sharks and rays . Feeding and activity increases during the night time hours.

Reproduction

The sharpnose sevengill shark is an ovoviviparous species. There appears to be no set reproductive season . Following gestation , from 9-20 pups are born in each litter . Each newborn pup measures approximately .8 feet (.25 m ) in length.

Behavior

Predators : Large sharks are potential predators of the sharpnose sevengill shark .

Parasites: Nematodes including Anisakis sp. and Contracaecum sp. are documented parasites of this shark. Other species of nematodes have been reported from the stomach mucus of the sharpnose sevengill shark. Crossobothrium dohrnii, is among the many parasitic cestodes found in the intestine of this shark.

Taxonomy

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Ambiguous Synonyms

  1. Notidanus cinereus aetatis Bellotti, 1878

Unambiguous Synonyms

  1. Heptranchias angio Costa, 1857
  2. Heptranchias cinereus (Gmelin, 1789)
  3. Heptranchias dakini Whitley, 1931
  4. Heptranchias deani Jordan & Starks, 1901
  5. Heptrancus angio Costa, 1857
  6. Notidanus cinereus (Gmelin, 1789)
  7. Notidanus cinereus pristiurus Bellotti, 1878
  8. Squalus cinereus Gmelin, 1789
  9. Squalus perlo Bonnaterre, 1788

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Similar Species

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The sharpnose sevengill shark may be confused with the broadnose sevengill shark (Notorynchus cepedianus). The broadnose sevengill shark has small eyes and a broad, rounded snout in contrast to the large eyes and narrow and pointed snout of the sharpnose sevengill shark. The broadnose sevengill shark also has black spots over its entire body in contrast to the sharpnose sevengill shark that lacks this coloration.

Members of the genus Heptranchias

There are approximately 11 species in this genus:

H. cepedianus · H. cinereus · H. dakini · H. deani · Notorynchus cepedianus · H. howelli · H. howellii · H. indicus · H. maculatus · H. pectorosus · H. perlo (Seven-Gilled Mediterranean Shark)

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal December 09, 2007:

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. Compagno, L.J.V. and V.H. Niem (1998). Hexanchidae. Cowsharks, sixgill, and sevengill sharks. p. 1208-1210. In K.E. Carpenter and V.H. Niem (eds.) FAO identification guide for fishery purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacif [back]
  2. Yamada, U., S. Shirai, T. Irie, M. Tokimura, S. Deng, Y. Zheng, C. Li, Y.U. Kim and Y.S. Kim (1995). Names and Illustrations of Fishes from the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea. Overseas Fishery Cooperation Foundation, Tokyo, Japan. [back]
  3. Last, P.R. and J.D. Stevens (1994). Sharks and rays of Australia. CSIRO, Australia. 513 p. [back]
  4. Compagno, L.J.V., D.A. Ebert and M.J. Smale (1989). Guide to the sharks and rays of southern Africa. New Holland (Publ.) Ltd., London. 158 p. [back]
  5. Compagno, L.J.V. (1984). FAO species catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 1. Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. (125, Vol. 4, Part 1), 249 p. [back]
  6. Mean = -694.970 meters (-2,280.085 feet), Standard Deviation = 1,094.190 based on 634 observations. Ocean depth information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
Last Revised: 2009-04-30