Facts about Sixgill Shark
- 08
Sixgill sharks possess a relatively stationary lifestyle, remaining in deep waters year-round rather than migrating seasonally like many other shark species.
- 07
A sixgill shark's bite force exceeds 7,000 pounds per square inch, enabling it to crush the bones of deep-sea prey including other sharks and marine mammals.
- 06
Over 18 feet long, sixgill sharks possess one of the largest brains relative to body size among deep-sea sharks, enabling complex hunting strategies in the dark ocean.
- 05
In the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, sixgill sharks hunt primarily at night, ascending from abyssal depths to shallower continental shelf waters between 600 and 900 feet to feed on fish and marine mammals.
- 04
Unlike most sharks with a single dorsal fin, sixgill sharks have two dorsal fins positioned far back on their bodies for deep-sea stability and maneuverability.
- 03
Female sixgill sharks can produce up to 300 live pups per pregnancy, making them among the most prolific breeders in the deep ocean.
- 02
The sixgill shark possesses six gill slits instead of the five found on most modern sharks, a primitive feature linking it to ancient shark species from over 200 million years ago.
- 01
Reaching depths of 6,000 feet, the sixgill shark is among the deepest-dwelling sharks and can live over 80 years based on growth ring analysis.