Family: ECHINORHINIDAE, Prickly Sharks, Bramble Sharks, Prickly Shark

FAMILY ECHINORHINIDAE

PRICKLY SHARKS, BRAMBLE SHARKS

Large sharks (to 4 m); body robust, cylindrical; head depressed; spiracles small, well behind eyes; teeth similar on both jaws, compressed and plate-like, each with 1 large point, adults with 3 additional small points; 5 gill slits, last distinctly longer than the rest; all before pectoral; both dorsal fins small, at rear of body, first originates behind origin of pelvic fin; pelvics large, at rear of body; no anal fin; tail fin strongly asymmetrical, lower lobe poorly developed, without notch under top tip; body covered with coarse denticles.

Tropical to temperate in all 3 oceans; 1 genus with 2 species, 1 temperate Atlantic species occurs in our region.