''Gollum'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
ground shark
Carcharhiniformes , the ground sharks, are the largest order of sharks, with over 270 species. They include a number of common types, such as catsharks, swellsharks, and the sandbar shark.
Members of this order are characterized by the presence ...
s in the family
Pseudotriakidae
The Pseudotriakidae are a small family of ground sharks, belonging to the order Carcharhiniformes, containing the false catsharks (genera ''Pseudotriakis'' and ''Planonasus'') and gollumsharks (genus ''Gollum''). It contains the only ground sha ...
, native to the southwestern
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...
. The genus was described in 1973 by biologist
Leonard Compagno Leonard Joseph Victor Compagno is an international authority on shark taxonomy and the author of many scientific papers and books on the subject, best known of which is his 1984 catalogue of shark species produced for the Food and Agriculture Organi ...
, who named it named after the character
Gollum
Gollum is a fictional Tolkien's monsters, character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He was introduced in the 1937 Fantasy (genre), fantasy novel ''The Hobbit'', and became important in its sequel, ''The Lord of the Rings''. Gol ...
from
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (, ; 3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973) was an English writer and philology, philologist. He was the author of the high fantasy works ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings''.
From 1925 to 1945, Tolkien was ...
's works, noting the species
''Gollum attenuatus'' (the slender smooth-hound) "bears some resemblance in form and habits".
Species
The currently described species and one undescribed species in this genus are:
* ''G. attenuatus''
(Garrick Garrick may refer to:
* Garrick (name), for the name's origin and people with either the surname or given name, the most famous being:
** David Garrick (1717–1779), English actor
* Garrick Club, a London gentlemen's club named in honour of David ...
, 1954) (
slender smooth-hound
The slender smooth-hound or gollumshark (''Gollum attenuatus'') is a species of ground shark in the family Pseudotriakidae. It is endemic to the waters around New Zealand, where it is usually found close to the bottom over the continental slope ...
)
* ''G. suluensis''
Last
A last is a mechanical form shaped like a human foot. It is used by shoemakers and cordwainers in the manufacture and repair of shoes. Lasts typically come in pairs and have been made from various materials, including hardwoods, cast iron, and ...
& Gaudiano, 2011 (
Sulu gollumshark)
* ''Gollum'' sp. B
not yet described (white-marked gollumshark)
See also
* ''
Aenigmachanna gollum
''Aenigmachanna gollum'', the Gollum snakehead, is a species of aquifer-dwelling dragon snakehead fish that is endemic to the Indian state of Kerala.
Description
''A. gollum'' has an elongated, eel-like body coloured mostly brown and beige. ...
'', a species of fish named after the same character from Tolkien's works.
References
Gollum (genus)
Shark genera
Taxa named by Leonard Compagno
Organisms named after Tolkien and his works
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