Plunket shark (Centroscymnus plunketi)

Scientific name: Centroscymnus plunketi Waite, 1910

Plunket shark (Centroscymnus plunketi)

The Plunket shark (Centroscymnus plunketi) is a marine fish of the family Somniosidae. Native range: Southwest Pacific, New Zealand and southeastern Australia.

Biology

Found on continental and insular slopes. Occurs in large schools near the bottom which are segregated according to size and sex. Feeds on cephalopods and bony fishes. Ovoviviparous, with up to 36 young in a litter. Size at birth between 32 and 36 cm. Used for fishmeal and liver oil. Minimum depth from.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Centroscymnus plunketi
Family
Somniosidae (Sleeper sharks)
Order
Squaliformes (Bramble, Sleeper and Dogfish sharks)
Class
Elasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)
Maximum length
131
Depth range
219–1550 m (719–5085 ft)
Environment
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 219 - 1550 m, usually 550 - 732 m
Climate
Deep-water
Distribution
Southwest Pacific: New Zealand and southeastern Australia.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Near Threatened (NT)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: of potential interest
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec=36)

Sources

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

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