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 |
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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
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.