Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Squaliformes (Sleeper and dogfish sharks) >
Somniosidae (Sleeper sharks)
Etymology: Zameus: zame, Japanese for shark (at the time, Z. squamulosus was known only from Japan) (See ETYFish); squamulosus: Latin for covered or beset with small scales, “so minute as to give a velvety appearance to the skin” (See ETYFish).
More on author: Günther.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 0 - 2200 m (Ref. 6871), usually 400 - 900 m (Ref. 55584). Deep-water; 68°N - 56°S, 180°W - 180°E
Atlantic, Indian and Pacific tropical oceans.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?, range 59 - ? cm
Max length : 84.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 6871)
Dorsal spines (total): 2; Anal spines: 0. Black in color, small dorsal fin spines, moderately long snout, small lanceolate teeth without cusplets in upper jaw and large high, knife-cusped cutting teeth in lower jaw, mouth moderately wide and nearly transverse, caudal fin with strong subterminal notch and short lower lobe (Ref. 247).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
Demersal or pelagic near continental slopes and seamounts in depths of 550-2,000 m (Ref. 6871, 58302). Also found from the surface to 580 m over deep water (Ref. 26346). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). Used dried and salted for human consumption and for fishmeal (Ref. 6871). Caught rarely by longline fisheries operating in deepwater; also caught, but rarely landed, by pelagic tuna longline fisheries (Ref.58048).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Distinct pairing with embrace (Ref. 205). Presumambly viviparous, with yolk-sac dependancy (Ref.58048).
Compagno, L.J.V., 1984. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 1 - Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(4/1):1-249. Rome, FAO. (Ref. 247)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 4.1 - 12.6, mean 7.7 °C (based on 948 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 1.0000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00380 (0.00164 - 0.00880), b=3.14 (2.95 - 3.33), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 4.0 ±0.60 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be <100).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate to high vulnerability (54 of 100).
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Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 5.01 [0.96, 26.10] mg/100g; Iron = 0.208 [0.047, 0.710] mg/100g; Protein = 18.7 [16.3, 21.1] %; Omega3 = 0.3 [0.1, 1.0] g/100g; Selenium = 20.2 [5.1, 67.9] μg/100g; VitaminA = 15.5 [2.9, 85.2] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.398 [0.181, 0.835] mg/100g (wet weight);
