Category: Fish
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.
Undersea Conversations…
While it isn’t obvious, fish have ears, and are able to communicate to one another through sounds. They don’t have vocal chords, but instead vibrate their swim bladders, producing popping, grunting, moaning, barking, or chirping noises. While some species of fish, like the goldfish, are silent listeners, there are over 1000 species that are known to vocalize, and some, like the gurnard who are veritable chatterboxes. While we can’t have a conversation with them - at least not yet - it is theorized that they do it to attract mates, frighten away predators or competitors, to synchronize mating, call for help and warn others, or to orient themselves.
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Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
