Smallfin gulper shark


The smallfin gulper shark is a medium-sized deepwater dogfish in the family Centrophoridae.

Physical characteristics

The smallfin gulper has no anal fin, two dorsal fins with spines, long free rear tips on pectoral fins, and a deeply notched caudal fin. Its maximum length is 98 cm.

Distribution

The smallfin gulper is found in the western Indian Ocean off South Africa and Mozambique, and the western Pacific off Honshū, Japan, Indonesia, New Hebrides, New Caledonia, and southern Australia.

Habits and habitat

Smallfin gulpers are common deepwater sharks. They live near the bottom between 130 and 820 m. They are ovoviviparous and have two pups per litter. Their diets are primarily bony fish, but also other sharks, molluscs, crustaceans, and even tunicates are consumed.