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Prickly Dogfish (Oxynotus bruniensis)

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All rights reserved. Students may use this information for personal research only. Not for commercial use.

Order: Squaliformes
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.

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