Species: Centroscymnus coelolepis, Portuguese Shark, Portuguese Dogfish Shark

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.