Sixgill sawshark

Taxobox
name = Sixgill sawshark
fossil_range = Fossil range|23|0 Miocene to Present [cite journal
last = Sepkoski
first = Jack
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = A compendium of fossil marine animal genera (Chondrichthyes entry)
journal = Bulletins of American Paleontology
volume = 364
issue =
pages = p.560
publisher =
location =
date = 2002
url = http://strata.ummp.lsa.umich.edu/jack/showgenera.php?taxon=575&rank=class
doi =
id =
accessdate = 2008-01-09 ]


status = NT | status_system = IUCN3.1
trend =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Chondrichthyes
subclassis = Elasmobranchii
ordo = Pristiophoriformes
familia = Pristiophoridae
genus = "Pliotrema"
species = "P. warreni"
range_

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range_map_width = 200px
range_map_caption = Range of sixgill sawshark shark (in blue)
binomial = "Pliotrema warreni"
binomial_authority = Regan, 1906

The sixgill sawshark, "Pliotrema warreni", the only member of the genus "Pliotrema", is a sawshark of the family Pristiophoridae, found in the subtropical waters of the western Indian Ocean between latitudes 23° S and 37° S, at depths of between 60 and 430 m. Its length is up to about 1.7 m.

The sixgill sawshark is the only shark with a saw-snout and 6 pairs of gill slits. It is found on the continental shelf and upper slopes, feeding on bony fish, shrimp, mysids and squid. Reproduction is ovoviviparous, with 5 to 7 young in a litter. It probably uses its saw to stun and kill prey, and is sometimes caught by sports anglers.

Coloration is pale brown above and white below.

References

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