Kingdom Animalia Subclass Elasmobranchii Order Pristiophoriformes Scientific name Pliotrema warreni Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Superorder Selachimorpha Family Pristiophoridae Higher classification Pliotrema | |
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Similar Shortnose sawshark, Bahamas sawshark, Japanese sawshark, Longnose sawshark, Eastern Australian sawshark | ||
The sixgill sawshark, Pliotrema warreni, the only member of the genus Pliotrema, is a sawshark of the family Pristiophoridae. Presence of 6 pairs of gill slits highlights this genus among sharks; outside Hexanchiformes order, Pliotrema is the only shark with more than 5 gill slits. Unlike other sawsharks, the barbs on this shark's rostrum continue onto the sides of the head. Its barbels are also closer to its mouth than in other species. At maximum, females can reach over 136 cm long, and males can reach over 112 cm long.
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Range and habitat
The sixgill sawshark is found in the temperate and subtropical waters of the western Indian Ocean between latitudes 23° S and 37° S, at depths of between 37 and 500 m. This shark lives in the benthic and benthopelagic zones of the continental shelf. Adults are partially segregated from juveniles, as they naturally tend to aggregate at lower depths.
Behavior
Using their sensitive barbels and electric sense, sixgill sawsharks are able to find their prey and then incapacitate them with their rostrum. Their known diet includes small fish, crustaceans, and squids. The only observed predator of the sixgill sawshark is the tiger shark, though it is likely other large sharks predate this species. These sharks, like other sawsharks, are ovoviviparous. They are thought to breed annually, giving birth to around five to seven pups per litter. It is possible that they come to inshore pupping grounds to give birth. The pups are around 35 cm at birth, and they later mature at around 83 cm if they are male, and around 110 cm if they are female.
Conservation
The sixgill sawshark is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List. This is because of their restricted geographical range, small litters, high age of maturity, and extreme vulnerability to bottom trawling fishing. Though they are not sought after in any market, they are frequently caught as by-catch and disposed. Because of their deep habitat, sixgill sawsharks are not considered a threat to people.