Centrophorus zeehaani White, Ebert & Compagno, 2008
Southern dogfish
photo by Graham, K.

Family:  Centrophoridae (Gulper sharks)
Max. size:  91 cm TL (male/unsexed); 102.7 cm TL (female)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 208 - 701 m
Distribution:  Indian and Pacific oceans of Australia (Ref. 76933) and in India (Ref. 118627).
Diagnosis:  This moderate-sized species has the following set of adult characters: length of pre-second dorsal 62.8-64.8% TL, 8.3-9.8 times dorsal-caudal space; length of pre-first dorsal 28.3-30.7% TL; interdorsal space 20.0-23.7% TL, 3.0-3.5 times the dorsal-caudal space; dorsal-caudal space 6.4-7.9% TL, 4.2-4.7 in pectoral-pelvic space; long and moderately robust head, its length 23.3-24.3% TL, 2.5-2.9 times mouth width and its width 11.8-13.1% TL, 4.9-5.4 in pre-second dorsal length, width at anterior of nostrils 5.5-6.3% TL; moderately long snout, its pre-oral length 9.4-10.1% TL, 1.6-1.9 times head height at anterior of mouth, 1.0-1.2 times mouth width; horizontal preorbital length 5.6-6.3% TL; horizontal prenarial length 3.4-4.2% TL); large mouth, its width 8.3-9.6% TL; moderately sized pectoral fin, its anterior margin 11.4-12.6% TL, 2.3-2.8 times base length; large caudal fin, its dorsal caudal margin 17.9-20.8% TL; 2.6-2.9 times dorsal-caudal space; moderately-sized first dorsal fin, its height 6.0-7.0% TL, with a relatively robust spine, its base width 0.9-1.2% TL; dorsal fins of juveniles have a distinct blackish margin extending from mid-anterior margin to near free rear tip while in adults with a less distinct, but obvious, dark margin; adults of both sexes with upper teeth upright, only slightly oblique laterally, different shape, and much smaller than lower teeth; juveniles with more oblique cusps, but not strongly oblique; 37-45/30-33 tooth row count (based on non-type skeletal specimens, n=8); flank denticles are flat, block-like, not overlapping, scalloped edges; 114-117 (mean 115.4) total vertebral centra, 54-56 (55.2) monospondylous precaudal centra; 28-31 (29.4) diplospondylous precaudal centra; 84-86 (84.7) precaudal centra; 31 (30-32) diplospondylous caudal centra (Ref. 76933).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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