Centroselachus crepidater (Longnose velvet dogfish)

(Bocage & Capello, 1864)

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Chondrichthyes > Elasmobranchii > Squalomorphii > Squaliformes > Somniosidae

Centroselachus crepidater (Longnose velvet dogfish) [Illustration by Ann Hecht ©]

Identification

A slender black or blackish brown dogfish with a very long snout, greatly elongated labial furrows that nearly encircle the small mouth, and round flat overlapping denticles; lower teeth with moderately long, bent cusps.

Size

To 90 cm TL.

Range

West coast from Namibia to Quoin Point; elsewhere widespread in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Ocean.

Habitat

Upper slope on or near the bottom at 552-864 m.

Biology

Fairly common on the west coast. Bears up to 4 young. Feeds on lanternfish.

Human Impact

None.

Text by Leonard J.V. Compagno, David A. Ebert and Malcolm J. Smale