The Longnose Velvet dogfish (Centroselachus crepidater) is a sleeper shark of the family Somniosidae, found circumglobally in southern hemisphere subtropical seas, at depths of between 886 and 6824 feet.
Family: Somniosidae – Sleeper sharks
Genus: Centroselachus
Species: crepidater
Phylum– Chordata
Class– Chondrichthyles
Subclass– Elasmobranchii
Common Name– Dogfish Sharks
Family– Somniosidae
Common Name– Sleeper Sharks
Genus– Centroselachus
Species– crepidater
Status: IUCN Red List LEAST CONCERN
Average Size and Length: The Longnose Velvet dogfish is born between 1 and 1.1 feet. Mature male sharks are between 2.1 and 2.2 feet, and mature females 2.7 feet. The longest recorded was 3.4 feet.
Teeth and Jaw: It has very long upper labial furrows. The mouth is almost circular, and very small. The lower teeth are long and bent.
Head: The Longnose Velvet dogfish have a very long snout.
Denticles: The dermal denticles of the Longnose Velvet dogfish are round and flat, and overlapping with triple cusps in adults.
Demographic, Distribution, Habitat, Environment and Range: The Longnose Velvet dogfish can be found in the East Atlantic and Indo-Pacific except for the northeast Pacific. They are found on or near the bottom of the continental slopes between 886 and 6824 feet. They are typically found below 1640 feet.
Diet: The Longnose Velvet dogfish typically eats fish and cephalopods.
Aesthetic Identification: The Longnose Velvet dogfish is slender. They are black to dark brown in color. They have narrow light posterior fin margins. The dorsal fins are about equal with small spine tips protruding from them. The first dorsal base is expanded forward with a prominent ridge and originates over the pectoral bases. The second dorsal fin has a free rear tip that almost reaches the origin of the caudal fin.
Biology and Reproduction: The Longnose Velvet dogfish is ovoviviparous. They have between 4 and 8 pups per litter. They breed throughout the year.
Behavioral Traits, Sensing and Intelligence: Unknown.
Longnose Velvet Dogfish Shark Future and Conservation: They are of limited interest by fisheries and are common and wide-ranging. The bycatch is used for liver oil and fish meal.
Longnose Velvet Dogfish Shark Recorded Attacks on Humans: Not a threat to humans.