About
Also known as the Dumb Gulper Shark, this species is found off the coasts of Australia and New Zealand in deep sea waters.
The major threat to this shark is commercial fishing, particularly trawlers and longlines because this species occupies depths of between 350 and 1,000m. This species has an especially low fecundity with one or two pups born every two years. Looking at other closely related species, it is also estimated they can live for up to 46 years and reach reproductive age very late. These life history traits make this species particularly vulnerable to overfishing and as a result, populations are extremely slow to recover.
However, there are conservation measures in place. The number of this species being landed by the Scalefish and Shark Fisheries are regulated and, some areas of this species range are closed to fishing. In 2012, a Dogfish Management Strategy was released by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority which aims to increase the population size of this species.
- Order: Squaliformes
- Family: Centrophoridae
- Population: Unknown
- Trend: decreasing
- Size: Up to 112cm (?)
- Depth Range (m): Up to 1,050m
EDGE Score
Distribution
This species is found off the east coast of Australia from southern Queensland to South East Cape, Tasmania. It is found on all the Tasmantid seamounts except for the most southern, Gascoyne Seamount. It has been recorded in Norfolk Ridge, Three Kings Ridge and Kermadec Ridge, extending the species eastern range.
Habitat and Ecology
This species inhabits waters above the continental slope at depths between 350 and 1,000m and are associated to the bottom. This species feed mostly on fish especially lanternfishes, cephalopods and crustaceans.
Not much is known about their biology but by looking at other closely related species, scientists assume they can live for up to 46 years.