To see photographs of Prickly Dogfish click here.
Prickly Dogfish (Oxynotus bruniensis)
All images and text on this page are copyright
protected: © 2002 Kelvin Aitken.
All rights reserved. Students may use this information for personal research
only. Not for commercial use.
Family: Squalidae
Sub Family: Oxynotidae
Genus: Oxynotus
Species: bruniensis
Taxonomic name: Oxynotus bruniensis
Other common names for this species are Prickly Dogshark & Roughshark, the latter referring to their very rough and distinct skin texture caused by relatively large and sharp denticles.
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.