Family CHLAMYDOSELACHIDAE

Chlamydoselachidae

© Copyright Ros Poole.

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Introduction

The Chlamydoselachidae comprise a single genus and two species of frill sharks (Ebert & Compagno 2009), known from scattered localities of all oceans. One species, Chlamydoselachus anguineus, has been recorded from Australian waters.

Chlamydoselachus anguineus is rare. It is found on the continental shelf and upper slope in depths of 120 to 1300 m, although it has been taken occasionally at the surface. The frill shark is distinctive in having a very slender and elongate body, six gill slits continuous across the throat and a single dorsal fin. The species is ovoviviparous. It reaches a maximum length of about 2 m. Food habits are unknown.

The natural history, anatomy and physiology of the frill shark were examined in detail by Gudger & Smith (1933), Smith (1937) and Gudger (1940). Compagno (1984) reviewed current knowledge of the species and Last & Stevens (1994, 2009) summarised Australian records. All species are treated in Compagno et al. (2005).

General References

Compagno, L.J.V. 1984. FAO Species Catalogue. Sharks of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 125. Rome : FAO Vol. 4(1) pp. 1-249.

Compagno, L.J.V., Dando, M. & Fowler, S. 2005. A Field Guide to the Sharks of the World. London : Collins 368 pp.

Ebert, D.A. & Compagno, L.J.V. 2009. Chlamydoselachus africana, a new species of frilled shark from southern Africa (Chondrichthyes, Hexanchiformes, Chlamydoselachidae). Zootaxa 2173: 1-18

Gudger, E.W. 1940. The breeding habits, reproductive organs and external embryonic development of Chlamydoselachus, based on notes and drawings left by Bashford Dean. 523-633 figs 1-33 pls 1-6 in Gudger, E.W. (ed.). The Bashford Dean Memorial Volume. Archaic fishes. New York : American Museum of Natural History Vol. 7.

Gudger, E.W. & Smith, B.G. 1933. The natural history of the frilled shark Chlamydoselachus anguineus. 247-319 figs 1-29 pls 1-5 in Gudger, E.W. (ed.). The Bashford Dean Memorial Volume. Archaic fishes. New York : American Museum of Natural History Vol. 5.

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Canberra : CSIRO Australia 513 pp. 84 pls.

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing Australia 2, 550 pp.

Smith, B.G. 1937. The anatomy of the frilled shark, Chlamydoselachus anguineus Garman. 335-505 figs 1-27 pls 1-7 in Gudger, E.W. (ed.). The Bashford Dean Memorial Volume. Archaic fishes. New York : American Museum Natural History Vol. 6.

Common Name References

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Canberra : CSIRO Australia 513 pp. 84 pls. [36] (Frilled Sharks)

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