Longnose velvet dogfish

The longnose velvet dogfish has two dorsal fins of approximately equal size and shape, with a small spine in front of each. It has a long pointed snout, lanceolate upper teeth and triangular lower teeth with straight (not oblique) cusps, and the clefts at the side of the mouth curve forward and almost meet on the centreline of the snout.

Coloration is black or blackish brown.

The longnose velvet dogfish is ovoviviparous with 4 - 8 young in a litter.

It feeds mainly on fish and cephalopods.

The flesh is high in mercury, and is utilized as fishmeal and a source of squalene.

References

• Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8
• Stevens, J. 2003. Centroselachus crepidater 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 03 August 2007.