Dumb Gulper Shark

Dumb gulper sharks are a rare species of deep-sea dogfish shark. They are also known as dumb sharks, Harrison’s deep-sea dogfish, or Harrison’s dogfish.

Dumb Gulper Shark Scientific Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Chondrichthyes
Order Squaliformes
Family Centrophoridae
Genus Centrophorus
Scientific Name C. harrissoni

Description

These sharks are 43 inches long, with slender bodies. It has a sturdy head, a flat snout, a y-shaped mouth, and a pair of large green eyes.

This shark has two dorsal fins, the first being more prominent than the second and each having a short spine. They also have a large, asymmetrical caudal fin.

Dumb gulper sharks have broad teeth, with those in the lower jaw much larger than those in the upper jaw. The teeth also display sexual dimorphism, with males having more erect upper teeth than their female counterparts.

They range from brown to grey dorsally and are much paler ventrally.

Where do they live

Map Of The Dumb Gulper Shark’s Habitat

Dumb Gulper Shark Habitat Map

This shark has been spotted off the coasts of eastern Australia and New Zealand, living in the demersal zone between the upper to middle continental slope.

Behavior

Hunting

The diet of these sharks includes cephalopods, crustaceans, and teleost fish.

Reproductive

Though unconfirmed, these sharks are most likely ovoviviparous and give birth to a litter of 1-2 pups. Like other deep-sea sharks, their reproductive rate is low, only giving birth once every two years.

Males reach sexual maturity around 75 to 85 cm in length, while females do so at 98 to 104 cm.

Dumb gulper sharks are long-lived and can live up to 46 years on average.

Adaptations

Their large eyes help them to see clearly in the murky sedimentary bottom of the oceans.

Interactions with humans

The IUCN lists this shark as “Endangered” or “EN” due to its population dropping drastically by about 99% due to human fishing activities and their low gestation period. From 2003-2013, it was even classified as “Critically Endangered” or “CR” before its population rose slightly.

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