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Definition of sixgill shark
sixgill shark
Plural:sixgill sharks
sixgill shark Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A large, predominantly deep-water shark belonging to the family Hexanchidae, biologically characterized by its primitive feature of having six pairs of gill slits rather than the typical five found in most other modern sharks.
Example
"Marine biologists used a deep-sea submersible to observe the elusive bluntnose sixgill shark scavenging on a whale carcass in the dark waters of the oceanic trench."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Named directly for its distinguishing anatomical feature of possessing six pairs of gill slits. This is considered a primitive trait inherited from ancient ancestors, as most modern shark species have evolved to have only five pairs of gills.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Sixgill shark. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/sixgill shark