Collection: Sixgill/ Sevengill Cow Shark

Sixgill Sharks and Sevengill Sharks are among the most primitive type of shark alive today. They are characterized by their large round bodies, not having a large dorsal fin, and extra gill slits compared to other sharks that have 5. The lack of a large dorsal fin allows them to grab onto large carcasses on the sea floor and spin rapidly, tearing off chunks of flesh. They have looked like this since they first appeared in the Late Jurassic Period about 160 million years ago. These Sharks live in the deep ocean where the extra gill slits allow them to absorb more oxygen in an environment that is quite lacking in it.