Hexanchus

The sixgill sharks are a genus, Hexanchus, of deepwater sharks in the family Hexanchidae. These sharks are characterized by a broad, pointed head, six pairs of gill slits, comb-like, yellow lower teeth, and a long tail. It can grow up to 8 m long and weigh over 600 kg (1320 lb). They are abyssal plain scavengers with a keen sense of smell and are among the first to arrive at carrion, together with hagfish and rattails. They show a characteristic rolling motion of the head when feeding. They have been found at depths to 2,500 ft (760 m).

Contents

• Feeding behavior of subadult sixgill sharks hexanchus griseus at a bait station
• Sixgill shark hexanchus griseus investigates a subsea forensic experiment
• Extant species
• Extinct species
• References