Leafscale gulper shark
Drawing by R. Mintern
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Subdivision: Selachimorpha
Order: Squaliformes
Family: Centrophoridae
Genus: Centrophorus
Species:
C. squamosus
Binomial name
Centrophorus squamosus
Range of leafscale gulper shark (in blue)
Synonyms
  • Centrophorus ferrugineus Meng, Hu & Li, 1982

The leafscale gulper shark (Centrophorus squamosus) is a dogfish of the family Centrophoridae. C. squamosus is reported to have a lifespan of approximately 70 years, based on otolith ring counts.[2] It was the first described species in the genus Centrophorus, which now contains 13 species.

Physical characteristics

Teeth and jaw of a female leafscale gulper shark

The leafscale gulper shark has no anal fin, two dorsal fins with spines, the first dorsal being relatively low and long, large eyes, and rough leaf-like denticles. Its maximum length is 158 centimetres (5 ft 2 in).

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic around continental slopes from Iceland south to the Cape of Good Hope, western Indian Ocean around Aldabra Islands, and western Pacific around Honshu, Japan, the Philippines, south-east Australia, and New Zealand.

Habits and habitat

The leafscale gulper shark lives near the bottom between 230 and 2,360 metres (750 and 7,740 ft), but usually below 1,000 metres (3,300 ft). Also occurs pelagically in much deeper water. It probably feeds on fish and cephalopods.

It is ovoviviparous with a maximum of five young per litter.

Its meat is utilized dried and salted for human consumption and as fishmeal.

Conservation status

The New Zealand Department of Conservation has classified the leafscale gulper shark as "Not Threatened" with the qualifier "Secure Overseas" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[3]

References

  1. ^ Finucci, B.; Bineesh, K.K.; Cheok, J.; Cotton, C.F.; Dharmadi, Kulka, D.W.; Neat, F.C.; Pacoureau, N.; Rigby, C.L.; Tanaka, S.; Walker, T.I. (2020). "Centrophorus squamosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T41871A68614964. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T41871A68614964.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.((cite journal)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "Centrophorus squamosus". The Moirai – Aging Research. 2 March 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  3. ^ Duffy, Clinton A. J.; Francis, Malcolm; Dunn, M. R.; Finucci, Brit; Ford, Richard; Hitchmough, Rod; Rolfe, Jeremy (2018). Conservation status of New Zealand chondrichthyans (chimaeras, sharks and rays), 2016 (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Conservation. p. 9. ISBN 9781988514628. OCLC 1042901090.
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