Sharpnose sevengill shark

How it lives

A deep-water shark of the outer continental shelf and upper slope, found from near the surface to about 1,000 m (3,280 ft) but usually much deeper. It gives birth to live young. A litter has 9 to 20 pups, each about 25 cm (10 in) long, and there is no clear breeding season. Males mature at about 75 to 85 cm and females at about 90 to 100 cm. It is active at night. It is considered harmless to people, although it bites quickly when caught.

Where it goes

Lives mostly near the seabed in deep water, usually about 180 to 450 m (590 to 1,480 ft) down, so it is rarely seen. Feeding and activity increase at night, and its wide range suggests a strong swimmer. The sources I read give no migration routes or tracking results.

We only draw a journey on the map when scientists have tracked it or clearly documented it. For this animal we have not found one yet.

Populations

Assessed as Near Threatened worldwide (IUCN, 2019). Bycatch in deep-water bottom trawls and longlines may have caused declines where deep fisheries have run for decades. It is of minor commercial value. The sources I read give no global population estimate, so the true numbers are unknown.