Frog shark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Frog shark |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Somniosus
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| Species: |
longus
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| Synonyms | |
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Heteroscymnus longus Tanaka, 1912 |
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The frog shark (Somniosus longus) is a very rare type of shark. It belongs to a group called squaliform sharks. You can mostly find these sharks living deep in the Pacific Ocean. The frog shark is part of the sleeper shark family, called Somniosidae. This family also includes the famous Greenland shark.
What Does the Frog Shark Look Like?
The frog shark can grow to different sizes. Male frog sharks can reach about 110 cm long. Female frog sharks are a bit bigger, growing up to 130 cm long.
This shark was once thought to be the same as another similar shark, the Somniosus rostratus. However, scientists found some key differences. The frog shark has a longer second fin on its back. It also has slightly bigger eyes. Plus, it has more rows of teeth and a different number of turns in its spiral valve, which is part of its intestines.
Where Do Frog Sharks Live?
The frog shark is quite rare. Scientists have only found fewer than a dozen of these deepwater sharks. Most of them have been found in the Pacific Ocean.
These sharks have been seen near the coasts of Japan and New Zealand. They might also live near Salas y Gómez and the Nazca Ridge. Frog sharks can live in waters that are not too deep, around 120–150 meters. But they can also live in very deep water, up to 1,116 meters down!
Are Frog Sharks in Danger?
Sometimes, frog sharks are accidentally caught by fishing boats. This can happen with different types of fishing, like trawling, longline fishing, or using crab pots.
As of 2015, there were no special plans to protect the frog shark. In June 2018, the Department of Conservation looked at the frog shark. They decided to classify it as "Data Deficient." This means there isn't enough information to know if the shark is safe or in danger. They also added "Uncertain whether Secure Overseas," meaning they don't know if it's safe in other parts of the world.
