| Echinorhinus | |
|---|---|
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| Bramble shark,Echinorhinus brucus | |
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| Echinorhinus brucus, mounted specimen, on display at theNatural History Museum of the University of Pisa | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Division: | Selachii |
| Superorder: | Squalomorphi |
| Order: | Echinorhiniformes de Buen, 1926 |
| Family: | Echinorhinidae T. N. Gill, 1862 |
| Genus: | Echinorhinus Blainville, 1816 |
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| The distribution of the twoEchinorhinus species | |
Echinorhinus is the only extant genus in the familyEchinorhinidae.
Echinorhinidae are traditionally classified in the order Squaliformes, together withkitefin andgulper sharks.[2][3] However, a phylogenetic estimate based on gene capture data and mitochondrial data suggests that they are not squaliform sharks, but may be more likely to be appropriately classed in their own group, as a sister group toangel sharks andsawsharks.[4][5] Phylogenetic placement of Echinorhinidae has been ambiguous in morphological and molecular studies, either being included within Squaliformes, considered sister to Squaliformes, or placed in a separate group with Sawsharks (Pristiophoriformes) or angel sharks (Squatiniformes).[4] For this reason they are sometimes given their own order, Echinorhiniformes.[6]
The name is fromGreekechinos meaning "spiny" andrhinos meaning "nose".
This genus includes two extant species of uncommon, little-known sharks. Both species are relatively large sharks, at 3.1 to 4.0 m (10.2 to 13.1 ft) in body length. They are characterized by a short nose and by rough, thornlikedermal denticles scattered over its body, some of which may be fused together. They have noanal fin. Two small spinelessdorsal fins are positioned far back.
They areovoviviparous, with the mother retaining the egg-cases inside her body until they hatch, producing litters up to 24 pups.[7] They feed on smaller sharks, smaller bony fish, and on crabs andcephalopods.
These sharks are found worldwide in cold temperate to tropical seas from the surface down to 900 m (3,000 ft).[7]
