Ghost shark, Elephant shark (Callorhinchus milii)

Scientific name: Callorhinchus milii Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1823

Ghost shark, Elephant shark (Callorhinchus milii)
Photo: http://zipcodezoo.com/photographers/Erik%20Tveskov.asp

The Ghost shark, Elephant shark (Callorhinchus milii) is a marine fish of the family Callorhinchidae. Native range: Southwest Pacific, southern Australia and New Zealand.

Biology

Occurs on continental shelves to depths of at least 200 m. Migrates into large estuaries and inshore bays in the spring to breed. Feeds mainly on shellfish. Oviparous. Eggs are encased in horny shells. Flesh is of good eating quality. Males have a small, club-like protuberance on the head and also long copulation organs near the pelvic fins.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Callorhinchus milii
Family
Callorhinchidae (Plownose chimaeras)
Order
Chimaeriformes (Chimaeras)
Class
Holocephali (Chimaeras)
Maximum length
125
Common length
75.0
Depth range
0–227 m (0–745 ft)
Environment
Marine; demersal; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 227 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Southwest Pacific: southern Australia and New Zealand.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.06-0.26; tm=2-6; Fec=2)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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