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Table of Contents		 Enchanted Learning
All About Sharks!
Geologic Time Chart
Introduction to Sharks Introduction to Rays Anatomy Shark and Ray Species Extreme Sharks Extinct Sharks Classification Shark Glossary Shark Index Printables, Worksheets, and Activities

ALL ABOUT SHARKS!
What is a Shark? Shark Information Sheets Shark Printouts to Color Evolution of Sharks Extreme Sharks

Bluntnose Sixgill Shark
Cowsharks
Hexanchus griseus


GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Bluntnose Sixgill shark is a primitive, common, and distinctive shark that has six gills on each side of the body (most sharks have five pairs on each side of the face). These sharks are also known as the Cow shark, the Grey shark, the mud shark and the Bulldog shark. They have a single (and small) dorsal fin near the end of the body, a blunt snout, and small eyes in front of the mouth.

They are gray-brown in color and are paler underneath. It has a toxic liver but edible flesh. It is fished by man for its oil and meat.

TEETH
The Bluntnose Sixgill shark has six rows of saw-like teeth positioned in the side of the lower jaw. The upper jaw has smaller, curved, single-cusped teeth.

SIZE
The Bluntnose Sixgill shark averages about 16 ft (4.8 m) long. It ranges from 5 to 16.5 ft (1.5 to 5 m) long.

DIET AND FEEDING HABITS
The Bluntnose Sixgill shark eats large fish (like other sharks, billfish, dolphin, flounder, spurdogs, rays, and cod), crabs, shrimp, smaller fish, and squid with its very sharp, saw-like teeth. It probably hunts mostly at night.

BLUNTNOSE SIXGILL SHARK ATTACKS
The Bluntnose Sixgill shark is not dangerous (unless provoked).

HABITAT
The Bluntnose Sixgill shark lives in dark waters at depths down to 5900 ft (1800 m), in dark or dim waters. It has been seen in coastal waters, usually below 330 ft (100 m). It has also been see by the surface of open waters at night (probably hunting).

DISTRIBUTION
The Bluntnose Sixgill shark is found worldwide from tropical seas to northern temperate seas.

REPRODUCTION
Females reach sexual maturity when they are roughly 14 ft (4.5 m) long. They reproduce via aplacental viviparity; the eggs hatch inside the body and the babies develop inside the female's body. There is no placenta to nourish the pups. The Bluntnose Sixgill shark has litters of over 100 live-born pups. The pups are about 28 inches (70 cm) long at birth.

BLUNTNOSE SIXGILL SHARK CLASSIFICATION
Kingdom Animalia (animals)
Phylum Chordata
SubPhylum Vertebrata (vertebrates)
Class Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish)
Subclass Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays)
Order Hexanchiformes
Family Hexanchidae
Genus Hexanchus
Species griseus



Information Sheets About Sharks (and Rays)

Just click on an animal's name to go to that information sheet. If the shark (or ray) you're interested in isn't here, check the Shark Dictionary.

ANGELSHARK

BASKING SHARK

BLACKTIP REEF SHARK

BLUE SHARK

BLUNTNOSE SIXGILL SHARK

BONNETHEAD SHARK

BROADNOSE SEVENGILL SHARK

BULL SHARK

DOGFISH SHARK

GALAPAGOS SHARK

GOBLIN SHARK

GREAT WHITE SHARK

HAMMERHEAD SHARK

LEMON SHARK

MAKO SHARK

MANTA RAY

NURSE SHARK

PORBEAGLE SHARK

SPINED PYGMY SHARK

TIGER SHARK

THRESHER SHARK

WHALE SHARK

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