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biodiversity explorer

the web of life in southern Africa

Centrophoridae (gulper sharks)

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

Species found in Southern Africa

Centrophorus granulosus (Gulper shark)

A small, slender, brownish-grey gulper shark with a long narrow snout, short 1st dorsal fin and high 2nd dorsal fin, usually very long pectoral rear tips, and small flat denticles. Underside light grey

Centrophorus cf. harrissoni (Longnose gulper shark)

 

Centrophorus lusitanicus (Lowfin gulper shark)

A large, stout gulper shark with a broad snout, a long, low 1 st dorsal fin and a high 2nd dorsal fin; pectoral rear tips moderately long; denticles low, flat and smooth. Colour pearl-grey.

Centrophorus moluccensis (Smallfin gulper shark)

A small, slender gulper shark with a long, narrow snout, a short­based 1 st dorsal fin and a very small 2nd dorsal fin; pectoral rear tips elongated;denticles small and flat. Colour light grey.

Centrophorus squamosus (Leafscale gulper shark)

A large gulper shark with a short, broad snout, a long, low 1 st dorsal fin, short pectoral rear tips, and large, rough, leaf-like denticles. Colour dark grey or chocolate-brown.

Deania calcea (Birdbeak dogfish)

A grey long-nosed dogfish with a long, low 1st dorsal fin and no subcaudal keel.

Deania hystricosum (Rough longnose dogfish)

 

Deania profundorum (Arrowhead dogfish)

A brownish-grey or dark grey long-nosed dogfish with a long, low 1st dorsal fin and a sub-caudal keel on the underside of the caudal peduncle.

Deania quadrispinosum (Longsnout dogfish)

A brownish-grey long-nosed dogfish with a short, high 1st dorsal fin and no subcaudal keel.

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