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Bramble shark (Echinorhinus brucus) — Echinorhinidae

Bramble shark

Echinorhinus brucus
EN · Endangered

The Bramble shark (Echinorhinus brucus) is a saltwater fish of the family Echinorhinidae that grows up to 310 cm.

Length
310 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
10.0–900.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The bramble shark is a large, sluggish deepwater shark (Echinorhinidae). The species has a heavy, grey-brown body studded with large, thorn-like denticles, and two far-rearward dorsal fins without spines. It lives near the bottom on the continental and insular shelf and upper slope in deeper water. As a sluggish predator it takes fishes, smaller sharks and crustaceans, possibly by suction. It is rare and endangered. It is sluggish and shy and is regarded as harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bramble shark?

The Bramble shark has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Bramble shark live?

The Bramble shark lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Bramble shark get?

The Bramble shark grows to a maximum of about 310 cm. On average the species is around 200 cm.

Is the Bramble shark dangerous to humans?

No, the Bramble shark is harmless to humans.

Is the Bramble shark edible?

The Bramble shark is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Braamhaai sourced
English name
Bramble shark verified
Scientific name
Echinorhinus brucus
Family
Echinorhinidae
Other names
Bramble shark verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
310.0 verified
Average length (cm)
200.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Crescent (lunate) inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
10.0 verified
Max depth (m)
900.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Echinorhinus

More from the family Echinorhinidae

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