Kingdom Animalia Scientific name Echinorhinus Higher classification Echinorhinidae Order Squaliformes | Superorder Selachimorpha Phylum Chordata Rank Genus Subclass Elasmobranchii | |
 | ||
Family Echinorhinidae
T. N. Gill, 1862 Lower classifications Bramble shark, Prickly shark | ||
Echinorhinus is the only extant genus in the family Echinorhinidae.
Contents
Taxonomy
While some scientists have proposed that the Echinorhinidae be given an order separate from Squaliformes, the general current consensus is that the Echinorhinidae are still a family in the order Squaliformes.
Etymology
The name is from Greek echinos meaning "spiny" and rhinos meaning "nose".
Species
Description
This genus includes two extant species of uncommon, little-known sharks. Both species are relatively large sharks, at 3.1 to 4.0 m (10.2 to 13.1 ft) in body length. They are characterized by a short nose and by rough, thorn-like dermal denticles scattered over its body, some of which may be fused together. They have no anal fin. Two small spineless dorsal fins are positioned far back.
Biology
They are ovoviviparous, with the mother retaining the egg-cases inside her body until they hatch, producing litters up to 24 pups. They feed on smaller sharks, smaller bony fish, and on crabs and cephalopods.
Distribution
These sharks are found worldwide in cold temperate to tropical seas from the surface down to 900 m (3,000 ft).
