Species: Centroscymnus coelolepis, Portuguese Shark, Portuguese Dogfish Shark
D1 similar D2; D1 short, no front ridge

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.

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