SLEEPER SHARKS SLEEPER SHARKS Family somniosidae Family somniosidae
Dec 15, 2015
SLEEPER SHARKSSLEEPER SHARKS
Family somniosidae Family somniosidae
ClassificationClassification
Kingdom animaliaKingdom animalia Phylum chordataPhylum chordata Class chondrichthyesClass chondrichthyes Order squaliformesOrder squaliformes Family somniosidaeFamily somniosidae 7 genera7 genera 18 species18 species
Characteristics of the Characteristics of the familyfamily
2 small dorsal fins, no spines2 small dorsal fins, no spines Small pectoral finsSmall pectoral fins Short, broad caudal finShort, broad caudal fin No anal finsNo anal fins Small eyesSmall eyes Small upper spike like teethSmall upper spike like teeth Small lower teeth tightly overlapped Small lower teeth tightly overlapped
Good for cuttingGood for cutting Slate gray to brown and some with spotsSlate gray to brown and some with spots
Family name derivationFamily name derivation
Somniosidae = “sleep”Somniosidae = “sleep” Know to be sluggish but can have bursts Know to be sluggish but can have bursts
of speed to catch fast moving preyof speed to catch fast moving prey
Most familiar species Most familiar species
From genus SomniosusFrom genus Somniosus Somniosus pacificusSomniosus pacificus- pacific sleeper shark- pacific sleeper shark Somniosus microcephalusSomniosus microcephalus- greenland shark- greenland shark
Others include little sleeper, and different Others include little sleeper, and different kinds of dogfish kinds of dogfish
Pacific Sleeper
Pacific Sleeper Shark
Greenland Shark
Greenland sharkGreenland shark
Greenland Shark
Greenland teethGreenland teeth
Size of sleepersSize of sleepers
Small to over 7mSmall to over 7m Size variable at different depths for Size variable at different depths for S. S.
pacificuspacificus larger at deeper depths for larger at deeper depths for S. S.
microcephalusmicrocephalus ~ 40cm at birth~ 40cm at birth
Habitat of pacific sleeperHabitat of pacific sleeper
Live in the Artic, and North PacificLive in the Artic, and North Pacific Cold water -1-12CCold water -1-12C At lower latitudes = live deeperAt lower latitudes = live deeper
epibenthicepibenthic
High latitudes= live shallower; even High latitudes= live shallower; even intertidalintertidal
Can be found up to 2000m deep Can be found up to 2000m deep
Habitat of Greenland Habitat of Greenland sharkshark
ArcticArctic North AtlanticNorth Atlantic Found up to 2200 m deepFound up to 2200 m deep epibenthicepibenthic
Food habits of Pacific Food habits of Pacific sleepersleeper
Eat cephalopods, teleosts, crustaceans, Eat cephalopods, teleosts, crustaceans, marine mammals (cetaceans)marine mammals (cetaceans)
Thought responsible for decline of stellar sea Thought responsible for decline of stellar sea lion but found untruelion but found untrue
Feed on bottom but are known to travel Feed on bottom but are known to travel vertically and feed on pelagic fast moving preyvertically and feed on pelagic fast moving prey
Known to be sluggish but with quick bursts of Known to be sluggish but with quick bursts of energy energy
Food habits of Greenland Food habits of Greenland sharkssharks
Feed on gastropods, cephalopods, Feed on gastropods, cephalopods, echinoderms, elasmobranchs, teleosts, echinoderms, elasmobranchs, teleosts, marine mammals ( pinnipeds)marine mammals ( pinnipeds)
Smaller (<200cm) mostly cephalopodsSmaller (<200cm) mostly cephalopods
Reproduction of sleepersReproduction of sleepers
OvoviviparousOvoviviparous 2 equally developed ovaries with pleats2 equally developed ovaries with pleats Males and females mature at ~400 cmMales and females mature at ~400 cm 5-10 young at a time 5-10 young at a time 40 cm at birth40 cm at birth Gestation ~ 2yearsGestation ~ 2years
Special adaptations of Special adaptations of sleeperssleepers
Live in cold deep waterLive in cold deep water Liver oil contains no squaleneLiver oil contains no squalene
Instead have “DAGE” and “TAG”Instead have “DAGE” and “TAG” Acts as “antifreeze” Acts as “antifreeze”
Besides urea also produce trimethylamine Besides urea also produce trimethylamine oxide (TMAO)oxide (TMAO) Stabilizes proteins against crushing pressure and Stabilizes proteins against crushing pressure and
coldcold People eat rotten meat of Greenland sharks People eat rotten meat of Greenland sharks
said to taste like ammoniasaid to taste like ammonia
Parasites of sleepers Parasites of sleepers
Both Both S. microcephalus and S. pacificus S. microcephalus and S. pacificus have have been found to contain copepod parasites, been found to contain copepod parasites, Ommatokoita elongataOmmatokoita elongata,on their eyes,on their eyes
Causes lesions and thickening of the corneaCauses lesions and thickening of the cornea Thought to affect image formationThought to affect image formation Have ability to detect lightHave ability to detect light Rely on other senses Rely on other senses
Parasite copepod on eyeParasite copepod on eye
videosvideos
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/playhttp://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/places/culture-places/food/iceland_rottenshaer/places/culture-places/food/iceland_rottensharkmeat.htmlrkmeat.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPEi_L0hGZov=NPEi_L0hGZo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-whabKr_r0whabKr_r0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJm7PwhrLNQv=LJm7PwhrLNQ
Literature citedLiterature cited
Benz, GW; Borucinska, JD; Lowry, LF; Whiteley, HE ( 2002). Ocular lesions associated Benz, GW; Borucinska, JD; Lowry, LF; Whiteley, HE ( 2002). Ocular lesions associated with attachment of the copepod with attachment of the copepod Ommatokoita elongataOmmatokoita elongata (Lernaeopodidae : Siphonostomatoida) to (Lernaeopodidae : Siphonostomatoida) to corneas of Pacific sleeper sharks corneas of Pacific sleeper sharks Somniosus pacificus Somniosus pacificus captured off Alaska in Prince William Sound captured off Alaska in Prince William Sound JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY. 88 (3), JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY. 88 (3), 474-481. 474-481.
Benz, GW; Lucas, Z; Lowry, LF (1998). New host and ocean records for the copepod Benz, GW; Lucas, Z; Lowry, LF (1998). New host and ocean records for the copepod Ommatokoita elongataOmmatokoita elongata (Siphonostomatoida : Lernaeopodidae), a parasite of the eyes of sleeper sharks. JOURNAL OF (Siphonostomatoida : Lernaeopodidae), a parasite of the eyes of sleeper sharks. JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY. 84 (6), 1271-1274 .PARASITOLOGY. 84 (6), 1271-1274 .
Frid, A; Baker, GG; Dill, LM. (2006) Do resource declines increase predation rates on North Pacific harbor Frid, A; Baker, GG; Dill, LM. (2006) Do resource declines increase predation rates on North Pacific harbor seals? A behavior-based plausibility model. MARINE ECOLOGY-PROGRESS SERIES. 312, 265-seals? A behavior-based plausibility model. MARINE ECOLOGY-PROGRESS SERIES. 312, 265-275.275.
Hulbert, LB (Hulbert, L. B.); Sigler, MF (Sigler, M. F.); Lunsford, CR (Lunsford, C. R.). (2006). Depth and Hulbert, LB (Hulbert, L. B.); Sigler, MF (Sigler, M. F.); Lunsford, CR (Lunsford, C. R.). (2006). Depth and movement behaviour of the Pacific sleeper shark in the north-east Pacific Ocean. JOURNAL OF FISH movement behaviour of the Pacific sleeper shark in the north-east Pacific Ocean. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY. 69 (2), 406-425.BIOLOGY. 69 (2), 406-425.
Sigler, MF (Sigler, M. F.); Hulbert, LB (Hulbert, L. B.); Lunsford, CR (Lunsford, C. R.); Thompson, NH Sigler, MF (Sigler, M. F.); Hulbert, LB (Hulbert, L. B.); Lunsford, CR (Lunsford, C. R.); Thompson, NH (Thompson, N. H.); Burek, K (Burek, K.); O'Corry-Crowe, G (O'Corry-Crowe, G.); Hirons, AC (Hirons, (Thompson, N. H.); Burek, K (Burek, K.); O'Corry-Crowe, G (O'Corry-Crowe, G.); Hirons, AC (Hirons, A. A. C.). (2006) Diet of Pacific sleeper shark, a potential Steller sea lion predator, in the north-east C.). (2006) Diet of Pacific sleeper shark, a potential Steller sea lion predator, in the north-east Pacific Ocean. Pacific Ocean. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY. 69 (2), 392-405.JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY. 69 (2), 392-405.
Yano, K (Yano, K.); Stevens, JD (Stevens, J. D.); Compagno, LJV (Compagno, L. J. V.). Yano, K (Yano, K.); Stevens, JD (Stevens, J. D.); Compagno, LJV (Compagno, L. J. V.). (2007) (2007) Distribution, Distribution, reproduction and feeding of the Greenland shark reproduction and feeding of the Greenland shark SomniosusSomniosus (Somniosus (Somniosus) microcephalus) microcephalus, with , with notes notes on two other sleeper sharks, on two other sleeper sharks, SomniosusSomniosus (Somniosus) (Somniosus) pacificuspacificus and and Somniosus Somniosus (Somniosus) (Somniosus) antarcticusantarcticus. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY. 70 (2), 374-390. . JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY. 70 (2), 374-390.