Frog shark

The frog shark (Somniosus longus) is a very rare species of squaliform shark mainly found in deep water in the Pacific Ocean. It is in the sleeper shark family Somniosidae with the Greenland shark.

Frog shark
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Squaliformes
Family: Somniosidae
Genus: Somniosus
Species:
S. longus
Binomial name
Somniosus longus
Synonyms

Heteroscymnus longus Tanaka, 1912

Description

The frog shark is known to grow to a maximum length of 110 cm in males and 130 cm in females. Previously classified in the same taxon as the similar Somniosus rostratus, it is differentiated from S. rostratus in having a longer second dorsal fin, a slightly larger eye, more rows of teeth and a greater spiral valve count.[2]

Range

Fewer than a dozen specimens of this deepwater shark have been collected, mostly from the Pacific Ocean. The frog shark has been recorded off the coasts of Japan, New Zealand, and possibly Salas y Gómez, as well as the Nazca Ridge, from as shallow as 120–150 m and as deep as 1,116 m.[1]

Threats

The frog shark is occasionally caught by trawl, longline, and crab-pot fisheries. As of 2015, no current conservation efforts are in place.[1] In June 2018 the New Zealand Department of Conservation classified the frog shark as "Data Deficient" with the qualifier "Uncertain whether Secure Overseas" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[3]

References
  1. Francis, M. & Tanaka, S. (2009). "Somniosus longus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009: e.T161552A5449863. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T161552A5449863.en.
  2. Yano, Kazunari; Stevens, John D. & Compagno, Leonard J. V. (2004). "A review of the systematics of the sleeper shark genus Somniosus with redescriptions of Somniosus (Somniosus) antarcticus and Somniosus (Rhinoscymnus) longus (Squaliformes: Somniosidae)". Ichthyological Research. 51 (4): 360–373. doi:10.1007/s10228-004-0244-4.
  3. Duffy, Clinton A. J.; Francis, Malcolm; Dunn, M. R.; Finucci, Brit; Ford, Richard; Hitchmough, Rod & Rolfe, Jeremy (2018). Conservation status of New Zealand chondrichthyans (chimaeras, sharks and rays), 2016 (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Conservation. p. 11. ISBN 9781988514628. OCLC 1042901090.


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