Notable for its seven gill slits (most sharks have five or rarely, six), the broadnose sevengill shark is also the only member of the genus Notorynchus. It has a large, thick body with a blunt snout. These sharks tend to inhabit offshore waters making occasional forays to the surface. They are opportunistic feeders, its food items including other sharks, rays, pinnepeds, bony fish, snails, and carrion. They are also known to hunt in packs in order to take down larger prey.
The fish that could drown (and other amazing tales)
Fish are masters of aquatic living, though some manage to do pretty well on land, too! Of living species, the mudskipper is probably the best adapted to life out of water - in fact, a mudskipper will drown if it can’t periodically come to the surface! This unusual fish uses its powerful, almost leg-like fins to walk on land and can even use them to “skip” up to 2 feet in the air! Similar to many amphibians, the mudskipper is able to breathe through its skin and the linings of its mouth and throat. It also seals water in its gill chambers when it leaves the water for extended stays on the land, much like a scuba diver brings air with them!-
Learn more >>
Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
