ANIMAL SPECIES:Broadnose Shark, Notorynchus cepedianus (Péron, 1807)
The Broadnose Shark lives in temperate waters, usually on the bottom unless in shallow waters and feeds on fish, seals and cetaceans. It is viviparous, having litters of up to 80 young.
Alternative Name/s
Also called Seven-gilled Shark, Tasmanian Tiger Shark, Broad-snout, Ground Shark, Cowshark and Broadnose Sevengill Shark.Identification
The Broadnose Shark has seven long gill slits in front of the pectoral fins, a single small dorsal fin well back on the body, and a wide, blunt snout. The teeth are cockscomb shaped, those on the lower jaw are wider than those in the upper jaw.
The species is silver-grey to brownish above and white below. It has black and white spots on the upper body and fins.
Size range
The Broadnose Shark grows to at least 3 m in length.Distribution
The Broadnose Shark occurs in most temperate seas. In Australia it is known from the central coast of New South Wales, around the south of the country, including Tasmania, and west to south-western Western Australia.
Distribution by collection data
Biomaps map of Broadnose Shark specimens in the Australian Museum collection.
Habitat
It has been found in shallow surface waters of bays an estuaries down to at least 200 m on the continental shelf.
Behaviour and adaptations
Feeding and Diet
It feeds on other sharks, rays, bony fishes, seals, cetaceans and carrion.
Living with us
Danger to humans and first aid
It is considered potentially dangerous to people, but the only confirmed attacks have been on divers in aquaria.
Classification
- Species:
- cepedianus
- Genus:
- Notorynchus
- Family:
- Hexanchidae
- Class:
- Chondrichthyes
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Compagno, L.J.V. 1984. FAO species catalogue. Vol. 4, Sharks of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 1 - Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes: viii, 1-250.
- Glover, C.J.M. in Gomon, M.F., C.J.M. Glover & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
- Last, P.R. & J.D. Stevens. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. CSIRO. Pp. 513, Pl. 1-84.
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A Broadnose Shark caught off Coaldale Beach View full size
Stuart Humphries
© Australian Museum
Head of the Broadnose Shark View full size
Stuart Humphries
© Australian Museum
Gill slits and pectoral fin base of the Broadnose Shark View full size
Stuart Humphries
© Australian Museum
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