Portuguese Dogfish, Centroscymnus coelolepis Bocage & Capello, 1864
Introduction
The Portuguese Dogfish is a uniform golden to black colour. The species occurs in the eastern and north-western Atlantic, and Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
Identification
The Portuguese Dogfish is a uniform golden to black colour. It has a stout body with large, smooth denticles. There are two small, equal-sized dorsal fins that are each preceded by a small spine. The upper jaw teeth are dagger-like, but those in the lower jaw are slanted and blade-like.
Habitat
The species is found in continental slope and abyssal plain waters in depths from 270 m to 3700 m. In Australia individuals have been caught in depths from 770 m to 1400 m.
Distribution
The species occurs in the eastern and north-western Atlantic, and Japan, Australia and New Zealand. In Australia it has been trawled from off New South Wales and Tasmania.
References
- Compagno, L.J.V. 1984. FAO species catalogue. Vol. 4, Sharks of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 1 - Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes: viii, 1-250.
- Last, P.R. & J.D. Stevens. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. CSIRO. Pp. 513.