Sherwood dogfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sherwood dogfish |
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| Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Scymnodalatias
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| Species: |
sherwoodi
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| Range of the Sherwood dogfish (in blue) | |
The Sherwood dogfish (Scymnodalatias sherwoodi) is a very rare type of shark. It belongs to a group of sharks called sleeper sharks. These sharks are found only around New Zealand.
Scientists have only studied one Sherwood dogfish. This shark was about 80 centimeters (31 inches) long. That's roughly the length of a large dog!
Reproduction
The Sherwood dogfish is ovoviviparous. This means that the mother shark keeps her eggs inside her body until they hatch. The baby sharks then develop inside her, getting their food from the egg yolk. Once they are ready, they are born alive.
Conservation Status
The conservation status of an animal tells us how safe it is from disappearing. In June 2018, the Department of Conservation in New Zealand looked at the Sherwood dogfish. They decided it was "Not Threatened" in New Zealand. This is because it is also found in other parts of the world, which helps keep its population safe.
