Family SOMNIOSIDAE

Proscymnodon plunketi

© Copyright from Waite 1910

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Introduction

Currently, worldwide the Somniosidae comprises seven genera and 18 species. The six genera and eight species known from Australia are treated in Last & Stevens (2009) and White (2008). Other species are treated in Compagno et al. (2005).

Species included here were previously placed in the Dalatiidae (Hoese et al. 2006) and before that in the family Squalidae.

Sleeper sharks live near the bottom on the continental shelf and oceanic areas from depths of 200 to over 3500 m. They vary in size as adults from 70 cm to at least 6 m.

General References

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

Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. 2006. Fishes. In, Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing : Australia Part 1, pp. xxiv 1–670; Part 2, pp. xxi 671–1472; Part 3, pp. xxi 1473–2178.

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

Waite, E.R. 1910. Notes on New Zealand fishes. Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 42: 384-391 figs 37-38 [dated 1909] [pl. 37]

White, W. 2008. Shark Families Heterodontidae to Pristiophoridae. pp. 32-100 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

History of changes