Sealife guideThe broadnose sevengill sharkNotorynchus cepedianus

Last updated on 04/20/2026 at 11:28 PM

The broadnose sevengill shark is a large primitive shark easily recognizable by its seven gill slits, a rare trait among modern sharks. It belongs to an ancient group of elasmobranchs and mainly inhabits temperate and subtropical coastal waters in several oceans around the world.

Taxonomy

Common name: Broadnose sevengill shark, Broadnose cow shark
French name: Requin plat-nez
Spanish name: Cañabota gata,tiburón pinto
Scientific name: Notorynchus cepedianus (Péron, 1807)
Family name: Hexanchidae
Order name: Hexanchiformes
Class name: Elasmobranchii

Description

The broadnose sevengill shark has an elongated and robust body that can reach up to 10 feet in length. Its head is wide with a short, rounded snout, giving it a massive appearance. Its eyes are relatively small, adapted to life in deeper and low-light environments.

The broadnose sevengill shark (Notorynchus cepedianus) © Gregory A Amptman | Dreamstime.com

Its skin is usually gray-brown to olive, covered with small black spots, a pattern that may fade in some adult individuals. It has a single dorsal fin, positioned far back on the body.

The broadnose sevengill shark is a primitive shark distinguished by the presence of 7 gill slits - you know, the series of small vertical openings on each side of its head - whereas most shark species only have 5.

Geographic range

The broadnose sevengill shark lives in many temperate and subtropical regions around the world, including the Pacific ocean, the South Atlantic ocean, and areas around Australia and South Africa.

Habitat

The broadnose sevengill shark is a benthic, mainly coastal species that lives near the seafloor in bays, estuaries, and continental shelves. It can be found from the surface down to about 1,870 feet deep.

Juvenile sharks most often inhabit shallow waters such as bays and estuaries.

Diet

The broadnose sevengill shark is an opportunistic predator that feeds on fish, smaller sharks, and sometimes marine mammals when fully grown. Its diet varies depending on its size and prey availability.

The broadnose sevengill shark (Notorynchus cepedianus) © Gregory A Amptman | Dreamstime.com

Reproduction

The broadnose sevengill shark is ovoviviparous and gives birth to fully developed young after about a one-year gestation period. Litters can contain several dozen pups, and births occur in protected coastal areas.

Did you know ?

The broadnose sevengill shark is listed as many other marine species within The IUCN Red List of threatened species. The broadnose sevengill shark appears in the IUCN Red List since 2020 within the category Vulnerable !

A broadnose sevengill shark swimming among the kelp forests of False Bay, Simon's Town, South Africa © Michael Valos | Dreamstime.com

Discover also

Common angelshark
(Squatina squatina)

Dusky shark
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Frilled shark
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Great hammerhead shark
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Lemon shark
(Negaprion brevirostris)

Pacific angelshark
(Squatina californica)

Pyjama shark
(Poroderma africanum)

Whale shark
(Rhincodon typus)

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