Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Chondrichthyes
- Order
- Myliobatiformes
- Family
- Hexanchidae
- Genus
- Hexanchus
- Species
- griseus
Habitat
Bluntnose sixgill sharks primarily inhabit deep oceanic waters from 200 to 2,500 meters, often along continental slopes, seamounts, and submarine canyons. They prefer temperate and tropical regions across all major oceans, including the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific. These sharks are more commonly found in cooler, deeper environments but may venture into shallower waters at night.
Diet
The bluntnose sixgill shark feeds on a variety of prey including bony fish, squid, crustaceans, and occasionally marine mammals or carrion. They are opportunistic predators and scavengers, often hunting at night in midwater or on the seafloor. Feeding behavior involves ambushing prey with a powerful bite from their six rows of teeth.
Behavior
Bluntnose sixgill sharks are primarily solitary and nocturnal, spending daylight hours in deep waters and becoming more active at night when they hunt in shallower areas. They exhibit slow, cruising movements but can accelerate quickly to capture prey, and they are not typically aggressive toward humans unless provoked. These sharks may show curiosity toward divers but generally avoid social interactions.
Conservation Status
Listed as Near Threatened by IUCN.