The combtooth dogfish (Centroscyllium nigrum) is a little-known, deepwater dogfish shark, named after its teeth that are comb-shaped.

Combtooth dogfish
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Order: Squaliformes
Family: Etmopteridae
Genus: Centroscyllium
Species:
C. nigrum
Binomial name
Centroscyllium nigrum
Garman, 1899
Range of combtooth dogfish (in blue)

Description

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The combtooth dogfish has no anal fin, grooved dorsal spines, two dorsal fins of about same size, a pointed nose, large eyes, small gill slits, a short abdomen, a short caudal peduncle, and is blackish-brown in color with white-tipped fins. Like all dogfish sharks, it has 2 spines in front of its 2 dorsal fins. It grows to a maximum of 50cm. It has a faint tiger-like band held together by the lateral line that has photophores that emit light to attract prey. Immature pups are born at 11-13cm. It has a spiracle behind each eye.

Diet

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It consists of eating small fish, shrimp, and cephalopods.

Habits and Habitat

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It is an uncommon deepwater shark found close to the bottom between 400 and 1,145m. It is found in the eastern Pacific and around Hawaii.

References

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  1. ^ Concha, F.; Ebert, D.A.; Herman, K.; Kyne, P.M. (2020). "Centroscyllium nigrum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T44514A80678335. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T44514A80678335.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.