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Prickly Dogfish. Prickly Dogshark. Roughshark.
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protected: © 2002 Kelvin Aitken.
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Family: Dalatiidae (Sleeper sharks), subfamily: Oxynotinae
Genus: Oxynotidae
Species: bruniensis
Taxonomic name: Oxynotus bruniensis
There are five species in the Prickly Dogfish family as follows:
Oxynotus bruniensis Prickly Dogfish
Oxynotus caribbaeus Caribbean Roughshark
Oxynotus centrina Angular Roughshark
Oxynotus japonicus Japanese Roughshark
Oxynotus paradoxus Sailfin Roughshark
All have a humpbacked body with a triangular cross-section. Their dorsal fins are large and tall with spines. The skin is rough with large sharp denticles, particularly on the upper dorsal surface. The eyes are small, nostrils large and a small mouth. The caudal fin or tail is large with an angular paddle shape. Colour varies from pale tan to dark grey with a warm reddish tinge.
All species are deep water dwellers from 40-1000m depending on species and geographic location. They feed on small fish and invertebrates found on, in or just above the sea bed.