Odontaspis noronhai (Maul, 1955)
Bigeye sand tiger shark
Odontaspis noronhai
photo by Wirtz, P.

Family:  Odontaspididae (Sand tiger sharks)
Max. size:  367 cm TL (male/unsexed); 326 cm TL (female)
Environment:  pelagic-oceanic; marine; depth range 60 - 1000 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Madeira and southern Brazil. Eastern Central Pacific: off Hawaii. May eventually be recorded from the Western Central Pacific (Ref. 13568). Questionably occurring in Seychelles.
Diagnosis:  Snout conical and bulbous, tip rounded. Eyes large and ovoid, nictitating membrane absent. Body color uniform chocolate brown, all fins except pectorals with thin dark edging along posterior margin.
Biology:  A deepwater shark inhabiting the continental and insular slopes (Ref. 50449, 58302). Pelagic (Ref. 58302). Ovoviviparous, embryos feeding on yolk sac and other ova produced by the mother (Ref. 50449). Feeding habits unknown.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 09 November 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  Harmless


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