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Species: Centroscymnus coelolepis, Portuguese Shark, Portuguese Dogfish Shark

All Families:   All Genera:   All Species:

snout short, < mouth width
both Ds exposed short spines
D1 similar D2; D1 short, no front ridge
flank denticles very large, round, smooth
top teeth = needles, bottom teeth = blades + oblique tips
pectoral tips end well before D1 spine
belly: no side ridges

Centroscymnus coelolepis Bocage & Capello, 1864

Portuguese Shark, Portuguese Dogfish Shark

Body cylindrical, fusiform, not tapering from shoulders; eyes on side of head, without nictitating membranes; spiracles large, just behind eyes; snout short, flattened, rounded from above, length before mouth 2/3 distance between center of mouth & level of 1st gill slit, & < mouth width; mouth short, nearly transverse; lips thick and fleshy; top teeth narrow, elongate, sharp, with a single point; bottom teeth large, blade-like, interlocking, with low, oblique points; gill slits 5, all before pectoral fin; 2 dorsal fins, each with a small, grooved, usually protruding spine; 1st dorsal =/slightly < 2nd dorsal, 1st without base extending forwards as a ridge; origin of 1st dorsal behind pectoral fin base, but nearer pectoral base than pelvic base; no anal fin; pectorals with short, , broadly rounded free rear tips that end well before 1st dorsal spine; tail fin strongly asymmetrical, upper lobe with deep notch under tip, lower lobe short but well developed; no keels or pits before base of tail fin; abdomen without side ridges; flank denticles very large, with low, smooth, oval crowns, skin like a snake; cloaca without a luminous gland.

Uniform blackish brown to golden brown

Reaches 122 cm.

Depth range 128-3675 m

Benthopelagic

All three oceans: Canada to northern Brazil.


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Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • Offshore
  • Offshore Only
Water Column Position
  • Bottom
  • Bottom + water column
  • Mid Water
  • Near Bottom
Habitat
  • Water column
FishBase Habitat
  • Bentho-Pelagic
Feeding Group
  • Carnivore
  • Data
Diet
  • Data
  • Sharks/rays
  • Bony fishes
  • Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
  • Sea snakes/mammals/turtles/birds
Egg Type
  • Data
  • Live birth
  • No pelagic larva
Global Endemism
  • All species
  • Circumtropical ( Indian + Pacific + Atlantic Oceans)
  • Greater Caribbean non-endemic
Regional Endemism
  • Also in Brazil
  • Continent
  • Continent + Island (s)
  • Extends N + S of GC
  • Extends South of GC
  • GC non-endemic
  • Island (s)
  • All species
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Equatorial (0-10N, Costa Rica / Venezuela)
  • Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
  • Temperate (>35N)
  • Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
IUCN Red List
  • Listed
  • Near threatened
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 122
Depth Range Min
  • 128
Depth Range Max
  • 3675