The velvet dogfish shark is a sleeper shark found sparingly worldwide.
Velvet Dogfish Scientific Classification |
|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Chondrichthyes |
| Order | Squaliformes |
| Family | Somniosidae |
| Genus | Zameus |
| Scientific Name | Z. squamulosus |
Description
On average, male velvet dogfish is about 1.6-1.7 ft long, while females are slightly larger at 1.9-2.3 feet. Its slender body has a flat head that tapers off with a long tail. The velvet dogfish has a pointed snout and a short and narrow mouth. Inside the mouth are small spear-like teeth in the upper jaw and knife-like teeth in the lower jaw.
The velvet dogfish is black or chocolate brown.
Where do they live
Although this shark has a global distribution with sightings in several places, its exact range is yet to be determined. The velvet dogfish can be found at depths of 4920 to 6560 feet but are most commonly observed at 1300 to 2950 feet.
Behavior
Feeding
Its diet most likely consists of bony fish and benthic invertebrates.
Reproductive
Velvet dogfish are ovoviviparous, i.e., they live birth.
Interactions with humans
The IUCN classifies this shark as “Least Concern” or “LC”.
