Portuguese Dogfish, Centroscymnus coelolepis Bocage & Capello, 1864

Scientific name: Centroscymnus coelolepis
Portuguese Dogfish, <i>Centroscymnus coelolepis</i> Click to enlarge image
A 1m long Portuguese Dogfish trawled during the NORFANZ expedition at a depth of approximately 1400m in international waters south of Norfolk Island, May 2003 (CSIRO H6059-09). Image: Robin McPhee
© NORFANZ Founding Parties

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Centroscymnus
    Species
    coelolepis
    Family
    Squalidae
    Order
    Squaliformes
    Class
    Chondrichthyes
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    Young are born at 30 cm in length and grow to 1.2 m.

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

  1. 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.
  2. Last, P.R. & J.D. Stevens. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. CSIRO. Pp. 513.