Cyprus Museum of Natural History

The Cyprus Museum of Natural History is now even wealthier

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The Cyprus Museum of Natural History is now even wealthier

Come to our museum and get the chance to meet our new shark. The new shark is part of the museum’s collection since last August. The “bluntnose sixgill” shark is a member of the “Hexanchidae” family and his actual name is “Hexanchus griseus”, often simply called the “cow shark”. Some of the shark's relatives date back to 200 million years ago. This shark is a notable species due to both its primitive and current physical characteristics. All sharks’ skeletons are made out of cartilage instead of bone which gives them great flexibility. Some other great characteristics sharks have, is their strong vision throughout the day and night, but also the ability to see in all directions. What is also admirable is the ultimate movement and balance control they have, and of course the fact that sharks of all species continually shed their teeth and grow new ones.
The Bluntnose sixgill shark is capable of attaining high speeds for chasing and catching its prey. Their diet consists of mollusks, salmon and sea lampreys. This shark can attain a length of up to 550 cm. Skin color ranges from brown to black and the eye color is a fluorescent blue green.
It is believed that the gestation period lasts longer than two years. The eggs hatch inside the body and the babies develop inside the female's body. The pups are born at a fairly developed stage and their size can reach 65 to 74 cm. New pups are also born with a lighter belly than adults. This is a form of cryptic coloration or camouflage that is used to disguise the pup's appearance.