160 UNDERWATER GUIDE TO MARINE LIFE 



Fig. 69. Greenland shark. 



SLEEPER SHARKS: Family Dalatiidae 



The dorsal and pectoral fins are reduced in size, and the gill slits are short. 

 These sharks are as sluggish in appearance as they are in reality. The teeth are 

 very different in the two jaws. Many are inhabitants of the deep sea and have 

 luminous spots. Their distribution is world-wide, and they are ovoviviparous. 



GREENLAND SHARK (sLEEPER SHARK, GURRY shark) : Somniosiis microcefhaUis 



Size: Averages 8 to 14 feet. Possibly to 24 feet. The females are larger than 

 the males. 



Distribution: Arctic seas to Cape Cod. 



Identification: The color is coffee-brown to dark gray with tinges of violet. 

 There may be faint, darker crossbands. 



Habits: This is the largest arctic fish and the only arctic shark. It may live 

 in water as cold as 28° Fahrenheit, or as warm as 55° Fahrenheit. It probably 

 lies near or on the bottom, rising only to feed and may be counted as the 

 most sluggish of large sharks, offering no resistance to capture. In spite of this, 

 it seems to be able to catch seals as well as large fishes such as halibut and 

 salmon, though it will also eat crustaceans and jellyfish. It seems to be irresistibly 

 attracted by carrion. Therefore, whalers know it well. In spite of rumor to the 

 contrary, it attacks neither living whales nor men in kayaks, and it is quite 

 harmless. The flesh is intoxicating and poisonous if eaten fresh, but is wholesome 

 if dried or allowed to become partly rotten. 



Similar Species: The Pacific sleeper shark, Somniosiis j)acificus, is found south 

 to southern California. Its habits are like those of its Atlantic cousin. 



ANGELFISHES: Family Squatinidae 



These raylike fishes are shown to be sharks by the possession of gill slits on 

 the side of the "neck," pectorals which are not attached to the head, and free 

 eyelids. They also possess characteristics which are superficially raylike: much 

 flattened body form, enlarged pectoral and pelvic fins, two small dorsals placed 

 far back, a row of spines along the mid-back, and eyes and enlarged spiracles 

 on the top of the head. They are not to be considered the evolutionary link 

 between sharks and rays, but they are midway between those two groups in 

 habits. Thus, they are bottom-living but still use the tail in a sculling, sharklike 

 manner for locomotion, little use being made of the pectorals except for steering. 

 They are ovoviviparous and world-wide in distribution. 



MONKFiSH (angel shark): Sqtiatina diimeril 



Size: Matures at 3 to Wi feet. To 5 feet. 

 Weight: At 4 feet weighs 60 pounds. 



