SLEEPER SHARKSSLEEPER SHARKS

Family somniosidae Family somniosidae

ClassificationClassification

Kingdom animaliaKingdom animalia Phylum chordataPhylum chordata Class chondrichthyesClass chondrichthyes Order squaliformesOrder squaliformes Family somniosidaeFamily somniosidae 7 genera7 genera 18 species18 species

Characteristics of the Characteristics of the familyfamily

2 small dorsal fins, no spines2 small dorsal fins, no spines Small pectoral finsSmall pectoral fins Short, broad caudal finShort, broad caudal fin No anal finsNo anal fins Small eyesSmall eyes Small upper spike like teethSmall upper spike like teeth Small lower teeth tightly overlapped Small lower teeth tightly overlapped

Good for cuttingGood for cutting Slate gray to brown and some with spotsSlate gray to brown and some with spots

Family name derivationFamily name derivation

Somniosidae = “sleep”Somniosidae = “sleep” Know to be sluggish but can have bursts Know to be sluggish but can have bursts

of speed to catch fast moving preyof speed to catch fast moving prey

Most familiar species Most familiar species

From genus SomniosusFrom genus Somniosus Somniosus pacificusSomniosus pacificus- pacific sleeper shark- pacific sleeper shark Somniosus microcephalusSomniosus microcephalus- greenland shark- greenland shark

Others include little sleeper, and different Others include little sleeper, and different kinds of dogfish kinds of dogfish

Pacific Sleeper

Pacific Sleeper Shark

Greenland Shark

Greenland sharkGreenland shark

Greenland Shark

Greenland teethGreenland teeth

Size of sleepersSize of sleepers

Small to over 7mSmall to over 7m Size variable at different depths for Size variable at different depths for S. S.

pacificuspacificus larger at deeper depths for larger at deeper depths for S. S.

microcephalusmicrocephalus ~ 40cm at birth~ 40cm at birth

Habitat of pacific sleeperHabitat of pacific sleeper

Live in the Artic, and North PacificLive in the Artic, and North Pacific Cold water -1-12CCold water -1-12C At lower latitudes = live deeperAt lower latitudes = live deeper

epibenthicepibenthic

High latitudes= live shallower; even High latitudes= live shallower; even intertidalintertidal

Can be found up to 2000m deep Can be found up to 2000m deep

Habitat of Greenland Habitat of Greenland sharkshark

ArcticArctic North AtlanticNorth Atlantic Found up to 2200 m deepFound up to 2200 m deep epibenthicepibenthic

Food habits of Pacific Food habits of Pacific sleepersleeper

Eat cephalopods, teleosts, crustaceans, Eat cephalopods, teleosts, crustaceans, marine mammals (cetaceans)marine mammals (cetaceans)

Thought responsible for decline of stellar sea Thought responsible for decline of stellar sea lion but found untruelion but found untrue

Feed on bottom but are known to travel Feed on bottom but are known to travel vertically and feed on pelagic fast moving preyvertically and feed on pelagic fast moving prey

Known to be sluggish but with quick bursts of Known to be sluggish but with quick bursts of energy energy

Food habits of Greenland Food habits of Greenland sharkssharks

Feed on gastropods, cephalopods, Feed on gastropods, cephalopods, echinoderms, elasmobranchs, teleosts, echinoderms, elasmobranchs, teleosts, marine mammals ( pinnipeds)marine mammals ( pinnipeds)

Smaller (<200cm) mostly cephalopodsSmaller (<200cm) mostly cephalopods

Reproduction of sleepersReproduction of sleepers

OvoviviparousOvoviviparous 2 equally developed ovaries with pleats2 equally developed ovaries with pleats Males and females mature at ~400 cmMales and females mature at ~400 cm 5-10 young at a time 5-10 young at a time 40 cm at birth40 cm at birth Gestation ~ 2yearsGestation ~ 2years

Special adaptations of Special adaptations of sleeperssleepers

Live in cold deep waterLive in cold deep water Liver oil contains no squaleneLiver oil contains no squalene

Instead have “DAGE” and “TAG”Instead have “DAGE” and “TAG” Acts as “antifreeze” Acts as “antifreeze”

Besides urea also produce trimethylamine Besides urea also produce trimethylamine oxide (TMAO)oxide (TMAO) Stabilizes proteins against crushing pressure and Stabilizes proteins against crushing pressure and

coldcold People eat rotten meat of Greenland sharks People eat rotten meat of Greenland sharks

said to taste like ammoniasaid to taste like ammonia

Parasites of sleepers Parasites of sleepers

Both Both S. microcephalus and S. pacificus S. microcephalus and S. pacificus have have been found to contain copepod parasites, been found to contain copepod parasites, Ommatokoita elongataOmmatokoita elongata,on their eyes,on their eyes

Causes lesions and thickening of the corneaCauses lesions and thickening of the cornea Thought to affect image formationThought to affect image formation Have ability to detect lightHave ability to detect light Rely on other senses Rely on other senses

Parasite copepod on eyeParasite copepod on eye

videosvideos

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/playhttp://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/places/culture-places/food/iceland_rottenshaer/places/culture-places/food/iceland_rottensharkmeat.htmlrkmeat.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPEi_L0hGZov=NPEi_L0hGZo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-whabKr_r0whabKr_r0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJm7PwhrLNQv=LJm7PwhrLNQ

Literature citedLiterature cited

Benz, GW; Borucinska, JD; Lowry, LF; Whiteley, HE ( 2002). Ocular lesions associated Benz, GW; Borucinska, JD; Lowry, LF; Whiteley, HE ( 2002). Ocular lesions associated with attachment of the copepod with attachment of the copepod Ommatokoita elongataOmmatokoita elongata (Lernaeopodidae : Siphonostomatoida) to (Lernaeopodidae : Siphonostomatoida) to corneas of Pacific sleeper sharks corneas of Pacific sleeper sharks Somniosus pacificus Somniosus pacificus captured off Alaska in Prince William Sound captured off Alaska in Prince William Sound JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY. 88 (3), JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY. 88 (3), 474-481. 474-481.

Benz, GW; Lucas, Z; Lowry, LF (1998). New host and ocean records for the copepod Benz, GW; Lucas, Z; Lowry, LF (1998). New host and ocean records for the copepod Ommatokoita elongataOmmatokoita elongata (Siphonostomatoida : Lernaeopodidae), a parasite of the eyes of sleeper sharks. JOURNAL OF (Siphonostomatoida : Lernaeopodidae), a parasite of the eyes of sleeper sharks. JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY. 84 (6), 1271-1274 .PARASITOLOGY. 84 (6), 1271-1274 .

Frid, A; Baker, GG; Dill, LM. (2006) Do resource declines increase predation rates on North Pacific harbor Frid, A; Baker, GG; Dill, LM. (2006) Do resource declines increase predation rates on North Pacific harbor seals? A behavior-based plausibility model. MARINE ECOLOGY-PROGRESS SERIES. 312, 265-seals? A behavior-based plausibility model. MARINE ECOLOGY-PROGRESS SERIES. 312, 265-275.275.

Hulbert, LB (Hulbert, L. B.); Sigler, MF (Sigler, M. F.); Lunsford, CR (Lunsford, C. R.). (2006). Depth and Hulbert, LB (Hulbert, L. B.); Sigler, MF (Sigler, M. F.); Lunsford, CR (Lunsford, C. R.). (2006). Depth and movement behaviour of the Pacific sleeper shark in the north-east Pacific Ocean. JOURNAL OF FISH movement behaviour of the Pacific sleeper shark in the north-east Pacific Ocean. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY. 69 (2), 406-425.BIOLOGY. 69 (2), 406-425.

Sigler, MF (Sigler, M. F.); Hulbert, LB (Hulbert, L. B.); Lunsford, CR (Lunsford, C. R.); Thompson, NH Sigler, MF (Sigler, M. F.); Hulbert, LB (Hulbert, L. B.); Lunsford, CR (Lunsford, C. R.); Thompson, NH (Thompson, N. H.); Burek, K (Burek, K.); O'Corry-Crowe, G (O'Corry-Crowe, G.); Hirons, AC (Hirons, (Thompson, N. H.); Burek, K (Burek, K.); O'Corry-Crowe, G (O'Corry-Crowe, G.); Hirons, AC (Hirons, A. A. C.). (2006) Diet of Pacific sleeper shark, a potential Steller sea lion predator, in the north-east C.). (2006) Diet of Pacific sleeper shark, a potential Steller sea lion predator, in the north-east Pacific Ocean. Pacific Ocean. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY. 69 (2), 392-405.JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY. 69 (2), 392-405.

Yano, K (Yano, K.); Stevens, JD (Stevens, J. D.); Compagno, LJV (Compagno, L. J. V.). Yano, K (Yano, K.); Stevens, JD (Stevens, J. D.); Compagno, LJV (Compagno, L. J. V.). (2007) (2007) Distribution, Distribution, reproduction and feeding of the Greenland shark reproduction and feeding of the Greenland shark SomniosusSomniosus (Somniosus (Somniosus) microcephalus) microcephalus, with , with notes notes on two other sleeper sharks, on two other sleeper sharks, SomniosusSomniosus (Somniosus) (Somniosus) pacificuspacificus and and Somniosus Somniosus (Somniosus) (Somniosus) antarcticusantarcticus. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY. 70 (2), 374-390. . JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY. 70 (2), 374-390.