To see more photographs of the Bluntnose Sixgill (Hexanchus griseus) click here.

Bluntnose Sixgill Shark (Hexanchus griseus)

All images and text on this page are copyright protected: © 2010 Kelvin Aitken.
All rights reserved. Students may use this information for personal research only. Not for commercial use.

Family: Hexanchidae
Genus: Hexanchus
Species: griseus
Taxonomic name: Hexanchus griseus

There are three species of sixgill sharks in Australian waters. The Frilled Shark (Chlamydoselachus anguineus) is found only in very deep water, although it will come near the surface on rare occasions. The Bigeye Sixgill (Hexanchus nakamurai) and Bluntnose Sixgill (Hexanchus griseus) sharks may occur in shallow water, especially when they are juveniles, but they are normally found at depths of 90–2000 m.

The Bluntnose Sixgill Shark has a wide tropical to temperate international distribution, being found locally in southeastern Australia, confined areas of Queensland and Western Australia. It has green-tinted eyes and a mouth that appears to be a tight-lipped grin. Its one dorsal fin is set well back on the body, near the elongated tail. The torso is round, almost chubby, and the six gill slits continue well around the throat.

The teeth of the lower jaw resemble a hand saw, with a series of jagged sloping points on a long base. The upper teeth have similar rear-pointing spikes but on a shorter base and with only three points, perfect for holding large or small prey. The whole array is ideal for slicing apart both large quarry, such as dolphins and sharks, as well as holding smaller animals like crabs and squid.

Despite it being a well-known commercial species, very little is known of the Bluntnose Sixgill Shark's biology except that females do not reach breeding maturity until they are 4.5 m long. They then can carry enormous litters up to and exceeding 100 young which begin life at 70 cm long and grow to a huge 5 m.

Home
Site Map
Contact Details