Velvet dogfish (Zameus squamulosus)

Scientific name: Zameus squamulosus G?nther, 1877

Velvet dogfish (Zameus squamulosus)

The Velvet dogfish (Zameus squamulosus) is a marine fish of the family Somniosidae.

Biology

Demersal or pelagic near continental slopes and seamounts in depths of 550-2,000 m. Also found from the surface to 580 m over deep water. Ovoviviparous. Used dried and salted for human consumption and for fishmeal. Caught rarely by longline fisheries operating in deepwater; also caught, but rarely landed, by pelagic tuna longline fisheries.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Zameus squamulosus
Family
Somniosidae (Sleeper sharks)
Order
Squaliformes (Bramble, Sleeper and Dogfish sharks)
Class
Elasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)
Maximum length
84.0
Depth range
0–2200 m (0–7218 ft)
Environment
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 0 - 2200 m, usually 400 - 900 m
Climate
Deep-water
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: off Natal, South Africa. Eastern Pacific: Hawaiian Islands and Chile. Western Pacific: Japan, South China Sea, New Zealand, and Australia. Eastern Atlantic: Iceland to Senegal; off Namibia. Western Atlantic: Gulf of Mexico, Suriname, and southern Brazil to Uruguay.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Data deficient (DD)
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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