Smallmouth knifetooth dogfish (Scymnodon obscurus)

Scientific name: Scymnodon obscurus Vaillant, 1888

The Smallmouth knifetooth dogfish (Scymnodon obscurus) is a marine fish of the family Somniosidae.

Biology

Usually found on or near the bottom. Feeds on bottom fishes including its congener, Scymnodon ringens, and invertebrates. Probably ovoviviparous. Utilized dried salted for human consumption and for fishmeal.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Scymnodon obscurus
Family
Somniosidae (Sleeper sharks)
Order
Squaliformes (Bramble, Sleeper and Dogfish sharks)
Class
Elasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)
Maximum length
70.0
Common length
40.0
Depth range
0–1450 m (0–4757 ft)
Environment
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 0 - 1450 m, usually 550 - 1450 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Western Atlantic: northern Gulf of Mexico, Suriname, and southern Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: Iceland and Faeroe Ridge to Madeira, Morocco, Cape Verde, Senegal, and northwest Africa. Very close to Scymnodon squamulosus and might be a junior synonym of it. Not in Compagno's 1999 checklist
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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