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Somniosus microcephalus, Greenland shark : fisheries, gamefish

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Somniosus microcephalus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Greenland shark
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Native range
This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.
Somniosus microcephalus   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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  • Image of Somniosus microcephalus (Greenland shark)
    Somniosus microcephalus
    Picture by FAO
  • Image of Somniosus microcephalus (Greenland shark)
    Somniosus microcephalus
    Female Picture by Cambraia Duarte, P.M.N. (c)ImagDOP
  • Image of Somniosus microcephalus (Greenland shark)
    Somniosus microcephalus
    Picture by Dolgov, A.

Greenland country information

Common names: Ekalugssuak, Ekalugssûp piarâ, Eqalugssuaq
Occurrence: native
Salinity: brackish
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: | Ref:
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: no uses
Comments: Common along both coasts and in the deep fjords (Ref. 9926). Also Ref. 9925, 118020
National Checklist:
Country Information: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/gl.html
National Fisheries Authority:
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Compagno, L.J.V., 1984
National Database:

Common names from other countries

Laimargue du Groenland, Tollo de Groenlandia, Акула полярная атлантическая, ... more

Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) > Squaliformes (Sleeper and dogfish sharks) > Somniosidae (Sleeper sharks)
Etymology: Somniosus: Latin for sleepy, reflecting Lesueur’s surmise that these sharks are slow or sluggish because of their relatively small fins (hence the name sleeper sharks) (See ETYFish); microcephalus: micro-, from mikros (Gr.), small; cephalus, from kephale (Gr.), head, allusion not explained, perhaps referring to its short, rounded snout compared with other sharks then included in the catch-all genus Squalus (See ETYFish).
More on authors: Bloch & Schneider.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Marine; benthopelagic; oceanodromous (Ref. 119696); depth range 0 - 2992 m (Ref. 119696), usually 200 - 600 m (Ref. 35388).   Boreal; -2°C - 17°C (Ref. 119696); 83°N - 27°N, 95°W - 61°E

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences |