Broadnose sevengill

Introduction: Broadnose sevengills (Notorychus cepedianus) are also known as the cowsharks,two references to their appearance. It is a very large shark with a broadly rounded head and a blunt snout. Notorychus means 'short-snouted' and cepedianus is a reference to the broad, flattened snout and 7 gills.

Distribution: Orange River mouth, Luderitz, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, Henties Bay, Torra Bay and Terrace Bay.

Diet: Actively hunts for prey including other sharks, eaglerays, stingrays and some bony fishes.

Colouration: Overall body colour is pale grey or greyish-brown upperparts with plenty of irregularly spaced, small, black spots. The underside is white.

Breeding: Females are ovoviviparous, producing large litters as many as 80 young

Max size: 290cm

Max weight: 95kg