Gray sea sow

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Gray sea sow
Oxynotus paradoxus.jpg

Gray sea sow ( Oxynotus paradoxus )

Systematics
without rank: Sharks (selachii)
Superordinate : Squalomorphii
Order : Spiny dogfish (Squaliformes)
Family : Pig sharks (Oxynotidae)
Genre : Pig sharks ( Oxynotus )
Type : Gray sea sow
Scientific name
Oxynotus paradoxus
Frade , 1929

The Gray Meersau ( Oxynotus paradoxus ), because of their high fins also sail fin Meersau called, is a shark species of the genus oxynotus ( Oxynotus ). The distribution area of ​​this species is in the East Atlantic and extends from the west coast of the British Isles over the Bay of Biscay and the coast of the Iberian Peninsula to the coast of Senegal .

Appearance and characteristics

distribution

The gray sea sow is an unusual-looking shark with a tall body that is triangular in cross-section. It reaches a maximum length of 120 centimeters, but usually stays at a length of 85 centimeters. The fish are uniformly gray or gray-brown in color, without any markings. An anal fin is missing, the two very high dorsal fins are preceded by the spines typical of the order. The first dorsal fin stands above the pectoral fins, the second above the pelvic fins. The dorsal fins are about twice as high as their spines. Like all species in the family, the animals have five gill slits and a spray hole behind the eye.

Way of life

The gray sea sow lives close to the ground above the continental slopes at depths of 265 to 720 meters. It probably feeds primarily on small, bottom-dwelling invertebrates and fish. Like other species of the order, it is viviparous ( ovoviviparous ); the young are 25 cm long at birth.

Danger

The IUCN states in its Red List that insufficient data are available to assess the degree of danger to Oxynotus paradoxus . The species is bycatch in deep-sea fishing .

supporting documents

  1. ↑ Oxynotus paradoxus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2008. Posted by: Soldo, A. & Freitas, M, 2007. Retrieved on July 7 2011th

Web links

Commons : Oxynotus paradoxus  - collection of images, videos and audio files

literature

  • Bent J. Muus, Jørgen G. Nielsen: The marine fish of Europe in the North Sea, Baltic Sea and Atlantic. Kosmos, Stuttgart 1999, ISBN 3-440-07804-3 .