Species: Hexanchus vitulus, Atlantic Sixgill Shark

Hexanchus vitulus Springer & Waller, 1969

Atlantic Sixgill Shark

Slender, head narrow and bluntly pointed; eyes large; mouth large, strongly arched; top teeth small and narrow, with an oblique point; lower teeth comb-like (long, low, serrated, 1st point enlarged), large teeth in 5 rows; six long gill slits none over pectoral base; a single dorsal fin far back on body, well separated from tail fin (separated by 2-3 times the length of the dorsal-fin base), space between bases of dorsal and tail fins > length of dorsal fin base; tail base relatively long; tail very asymmetrical, lower lobe and notch under top tip well developed.

Grey on top, abruptly light below; trailing edges of fins usually white, sometimes dark; a black spot at tip of tail fin.

Size: 180 cm.

Habitat: Continental and insular shelves and upper slopes, generally near the bottom.

Depth: 90-701 m.

West Atlantic, Florida to Brazil.