Fauna
Fish

Broadnose Sevengill Shark

Notorynchus cepedianus

Also known as Sevengill Shark, Cow Shark, Broadnose Shark, Mud Shark

Broadnose sevengill sharks are opportunistic apex predators capable of coordinating tactical pack hunts to ambush marine mammals and large fish. Retaining primitive traits from the Jurassic period, they lack the typical second dorsal fin and possess unique comb-shaped lower teeth designed to shear flesh. Coastal bays and sheltered estuaries serve as critical seasonal pupping grounds, where females give birth to large litters of live young after an extensive gestation.

MarineApex PredatorPrimitive
Broadnose Sevengill Shark reference1 / 7
(c) Derek Keats, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyHarbor Seal, Bat Ray, Spiny Dogfish
Predators
  • Killer Whale
  • Great White Shark
ThreatsCommercial bycatch, targeted gillnet fishing, and coastal nursery habitat loss
HabitatsTemperate coastal bays, kelp forests, estuaries, and continental shelves
Life span30–50 years
Classification
  1. FamilyHexanchidae
  2. SpeciesNotorynchus cepedianus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Large apex predator capable of severe bites; maintain distance and avoid cornering in shallow water.
Why it is dangerous
Large jaws packed with multi-cusped upper teeth and serrated, comb-like lower teeth deliver catastrophic tearing bites capable of severing limbs.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for seven distinct gill slits, a wide blunt snout, a single dorsal fin set far back, and black-and-white spotted skin.
What to do
Never touch, corner, or spear this shark; slowly back away facing the animal if it circles closely.
What to notice
Recognized by a pale belly, speckled countershaded back, and an elongated upper caudal fin lobe.
Support conservation
Keep boat traffic slow and minimize water disturbance in shallow coastal bays during spring pupping season.
Responsible observation
  • Diver Etiquette: Give approaching individuals clear right-of-way and avoid blocking escape paths or kelp channels.
  • Shallow Water Care: Watch for moving dorsal silhouettes when wading near murky estuarine inlets during summer.
  • Bait Awareness: Avoid swimming or diving near active spearfishing, hook-and-line angling, or fish cleaning stations.
Related species
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