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Shark
Portuguese Shark
Common Name: Protuguese Shark
Scientific Name: Centroscymnus coelolepis
Description
The Portuguese shark was originally described as
Centroscymnus coelolepis by Barbosa du Bocage and
Brito Capello in 1864. This name is still accepted as scientifically
valid. Scymnodon melas is a synonym that has occurred in past
scientific literature to refer to this species. The genus
name, Centroscymnus, is derived from the Greek "kentron" which
means sting and from the Greek "skymnos" which means puppy.
English language common names of Centroscymnus coelolepis
include Portuguese shark, Portuguese dogfish and siki shark.
Habitat
The
range of the Portuguese shark is from Grand Banks,
Newfoundland to Virginia in the western Atlantic Ocean. Portuguese
sharks are benthic and live in deepwater, captured most frequently
at depths of greater than 1,300 feet (400m). They have been
taken from waters ranging from 886-12,000 feet (270-3,675
m) deep, at temperatures of 41-55 °F (5-13 °C). Females tend
to inhabit deeper waters than males.
Biology
The
body of the Portuguese shark is moderately stout
with a short, blunt snout. The gill arches are short. The
mouth of this shark is slightly arched with thick lips and
the presence of the upper and lower labial furrows. There
is a very short, grooved spine barely sprotruding from the
origin of each of the two equally small dorsal fins. The first
dorsal fin origin is posterior to the broadly rounded pectoral
fins. Adult Portuguese sharks are uniformly blackish
brown, without any obvious black markings above the pelvic
fins, ventrally on the caudal peduncle, or laterally on the
upper caudal lobe. The average adult length is 27-39 inches
(70-100 cm) with a maximum reported size of about 47 inches
(120 cm). Males are smaller than females, reaching a maximum
length of just over 35 inches (90 cm).
Food
Benthic
fishes, squids, octopods, and gastropods are among the prey
items included in the diet of the Portuguese shark. They actively
scavenge as well, as evidenced by marine mammals remains found
in stomachs of this shark. They feed primarily at night.
Reproduction
Portuguese
sharks are ovoviviparous. Males reach sexual maturity at 27-30
inches (70-75 cm) total length (TL); mature females have been
reported at 35-39 inches (90-100 cm) total length. Females
ovulate mature ova measuring 50-60 mm in diameter. Embryos
are nourished by the yolk; there is no placental attachment
with the mother during development. Females give birth to
13-17 young, which are born at 11-12 inches (27-30 cm) in
length.
Conservation
Considered
"Near Threatened" by the World Conservation Union (IUCN),
the Portuguese shark has been commercially exploited in some
regions of the world for squalene. The productivity of this
species is likely to be low and further increases in catches
should be a reason for concern.
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