''Somniosus'' is a widely distributed
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...
of deepwater
dogfish sharks
Squalidae, more commonly known as dogfish, dog sharks, or spiny dogfish, are one of several families of sharks categorized under Squaliformes, making it the second largest order of sharks, numbering 119 species across 7 families. Having earned t ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Somniosidae
The Somniosidae are a family of sharks in the order Squaliformes, commonly known as sleeper sharks. The common name ''"sleeper shark"'' comes from their slow swimming, low activity level, and perceived non-aggressive nature.
Distribution and ha ...
.
Several members of the genus are believed to attain lengths up to , thus ranking among the largest of sharks.
Species
* ''
Somniosus antarcticus''
Whitley, 1939 (southern sleeper shark)
* †''
Somniosus gonzalezi''
Welton & Goedert, 2016 – fossil,
Oligocene
* ''
Somniosus longus''
Tanaka, 1912 (frog shark)
* ''
Somniosus microcephalus
The Greenland shark (''Somniosus microcephalus''), also known as the gurry shark, grey shark, or by the Kalaallisut name ''eqalussuaq'', is a large shark of the family Somniosidae ("sleeper sharks"), closely related to the Pacific and southern ...
''
( Bloch & J. G. Schneider, 1801) (Greenland shark)
* ''
Somniosus pacificus''
Bigelow & Schroeder __NOTOC__
Schroeder is a North German language, German (from Schröder) occupational name for a cloth cutter or tailor, from an agent derivative of Middle Low German , "to cut". The same term was occasionally used to denote a gristmiller as well as ...
, 1944 (Pacific sleeper shark)
* ''
Somniosus rostratus''
A. Risso, 1827 (little sleeper shark)
* ''Somniosus'' sp. A
Not yet described (longnose sleeper shark)
Image:Somniosus microcephalus okeanos.jpg , ''Somniosus microcephalus
The Greenland shark (''Somniosus microcephalus''), also known as the gurry shark, grey shark, or by the Kalaallisut name ''eqalussuaq'', is a large shark of the family Somniosidae ("sleeper sharks"), closely related to the Pacific and southern ...
''
Image:Somniosus pacificus noaa2.jpg, '' Somniosus pacificus''
Image:Somniosus rostratus adult JGF.jpg, '' Somniosus rostratus''
Image:Somniosus antarcticus.jpg, '' Somniosus antarcticus''
See also
*
List of prehistoric cartilaginous fish
This list of prehistoric cartilaginous fish genera is an attempt to create a comprehensive listing of all genera that have ever been included in the class chondrichthyes ''and'' are known from the fossil record. This list excludes purely vernacul ...
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q213054
Extant Oligocene first appearances
Shark genera
Taxa named by Charles Alexandre Lesueur