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Glite Dictionary
Somniosus

Somniosus

9.9
A group of slow deep-sea sharks like the Greenland shark
  • proper noun
  • Specialized
: Somniosus
  • MAP: Figure 155. Total tagging distribution for the Greenland shark, Somniosus microcephalus, from the NMFS Cooperative Shark Tagging Program during 1962-93.
  • Somniosus microcephalus
  • Somniosus shark
  • Greenland shark

Examples

  • MAP: Figure 157. Recapture distribution for the Greenland shark, Somniosus microcephalus, from the NMFS Cooperative Shark Tagging Program during 1962-93.

    Academic text (1998)

  • The Greenland shark, Somniosus microcephalus, is known for its incredibly long lifespan, potentially living for over 400 years.

  • Salmon sharks, Lamna ditropis, and Pacific sleeper sharks, Somniosus pacificus, have recently been implicated in Steller sea lion mortality.

    Academic text (2000)

  • The number of sharks tagged varies from 22 for the Greenland shark, Somniosus microcephalus, to 60,856 for the blue shark. Most species (27) have more than 100 sharks tagged.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Scientists study the behavior of the Pacific sleeper shark, Somniosus pacificus, to better understand deep-sea ecosystems.

  • Researchers have discovered that the deep-sea species, Somniosus, has unique adaptations for surviving in dark and cold waters.

Surface Forms

Somniosus main

Etymology

Somniosus comes from the Latin root somn- meaning 'sleep' or 'dream', so the name is like 'sleepy' or 'full of sleep'. That's why this name fits the slow, deep-sea 'sleeper' sharks, which move quietly and seem almost asleep.