Distribution:

Amphitemperate. Western Atlantic: Newfoundland, Cananda to New Jersey USA; possibly southern Brazil to Argentina. Eastern Atlantic: Iceland and western Barents Sea to South Africa, including the Mediterranean. Southwest Pacific: Australia and New Zealand. Southeast Pacific: Chile. Antarctic: off South Georgia and Kerguelen Is. Southern Indian Ocean.

Diagnosis:

Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0. A stout, spindle-shaped shark with large black eyes, a sharp, conical snout, and small, smooth-edged, narrow teeth with side cusps. Dark grey above, white below, without blotches; rear tip of 1st dorsal abruptly white.

Biology:

Most abundant on continental offshore fishing banks but also found far from land in ocean basins and occasionally close inshore. Found singly and in schools and feeding aggregations. Feeds on small pelagic schooling fishes, other sharks, and squid. Regarded as potentially dangerous to people because of its size and activity but has never or very seldom been indicted in an attack on people or boats. Utilized fresh, dried/salted and frozen for human consumption; for oil and fishmeal; fins for shak-fin soup. May be pan-fried and broiled.

Max. size: 350.0 cm

Max.weight: 211 Kg

Environment: pelagic; depth range 0 - 715 m

Climate: temperate; 2 - 18°C; 76°N - 58°S

Canary Islands country information: [ No common name ]