Portuguese Dogfish, Centroscymnus coelolepis Bocage & Capello 1864


A Portuguese Dogfish, Centroscymnus coelolepis, from the Wanganella Bank, Norfolk Ridge, Tasman Sea - depth 1445 m. Source: NORFANZ Founding Parties. License: All rights reserved

Summary:

A uniformly Golden-Brown dark dogfish with a stout body. Dorsal fins both small and slender with only the tips protruding through the skin. Pectoral fins broad, first dorsal fin spine originating slightly behind the pectoral fins rear tips. Found in temperate waters of 5-13°C and widespread.


Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J & Wood, D.R 2018, Centroscymnus coelolepis in Fishes of Australia, accessed 30 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3423

Portuguese Dogfish, Centroscymnus coelolepis Bocage & Capello 1864

More Info


Distribution

Found from Cape Hawke (New South Wales) to Cape Leeuwin (Western Australia) on or near the bottom of the continental slope, at a depth of 270 – 3700 m. Also found in the western Atlantic, western North Pacific, southern Indian Ocean, New Zealand and eastern Atlantic. A very widespread species.

Features

A Golden-Brown dark dogfish with a stout body. Dorsal fins both small and slender with only the tips protruding through the skin. Large smooth denticles resembling snake skin, smooth leaf-shaped and lacking ridge above the gill slits. Pectoral fins broad, first dorsal fin spine originating slightly behind the pectoral fin rear tips.

Feeding

Feeds on cephalopods and fish, including other sharks.

Biology

A viviparous (matrotrophic) species, with litters of 12 – 29 young. Males mature at 85 cm and females mature at 100 cm.

Fisheries

Once taken as bycatch in Australia, fishing is now restricted due to sustainability concerns. Still fished elsewhere for its liver oil, fishmeal and for human consumption.

Author

Bray, D.J & Wood, D.R 2018

Portuguese Dogfish, Centroscymnus coelolepis Bocage & Capello 1864

References


Catarino, D., Knutsen, H., Veríssimo, A., Olsen, E. M., Jorde, P. E., Menezes, G., Sannæs, H., Stanković, D., Company, J. B., Neat, F., Danovaro, R., Dell'Anno, A., Rochowski, B. & Stefanni, S. (2015), The Pillars of Hercules as a bathymetric barrier to gene-flow promoting isolation in a global deep-sea shark (Centroscymnus coelolepis). Mol Ecol. doi:10.1111/mec.13453 Abstract


Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing Australia 2, 550 pp.



Moura, T., E. Jones, M.W. Clarke, C.F. Cotton, P. Crozier, et al. 2014. Large-scale distribution of three deep-water squaloid sharks: Integrating data on sex, maturity and environment. Fisheries Research 157: 47–61.

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37020025

Biology:viviparous (matrotrophic)

Conservation:IUCN Near Threatened

Depth: 270-3700 m (770-1430 m Australia)

Max Size:120 cm TL

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Species Maps

CAAB distribution map