Centrophorus lusitanicus Barbosa du Bocage & de Brito Capello, 1864
Lowfin gulper shark
Centrophorus lusitanicus
photo by Cambraia Duarte, P.M.N. (c)ImagDOP

Family:  Centrophoridae (Gulper sharks)
Max. size:  160 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 300 - 1400 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Portugal, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire to Nigeria. Western Indian Ocean: southern Mozambique and possibly Natal, South Africa (Ref. 11228). Western Pacific: China (Ref. 6577) and Taiwan (Ref. 247); occurrence in the Western Central Pacific uncertain but should be watched for (Ref. 31367). Often confused with Centrophorus niaukang and Centrophorus granulosus (Ref. 31367).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 2-2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. A large, stout gulper shark with a broad snout, a long, low 1st dorsal fin and a high 2nd dorsal fin; pectoral rear tips moderately long; denticles low, flat and smooth (Ref. 5578). Pearl-grey in color (Ref. 5578).
Biology:  A large deepwater dogfish of the outer continental shelves and upper slopes (Ref. 247). Feeds on bony fish, small dogfish sharks, squids, and lobsters (Ref. 247). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Utilized as food fish and as fishmeal (Ref. 247).
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 01 December 2008 (A2bd+4bd) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  New record for the Philippines, specimen taken from Liberty, bagong Sikat, Puerto Princesa City. Poorly known from the general area and needs to be compared with material from Taiwan, Mozambique and the Eastern Atlantic (Ref. 47737). Also Ref. 47736, 116740.


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