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Rough
Sagre Etmopterus princeps
| Drawing modified from
The Sharks of North American Waters, J.I.Castro. Drawings by D.B.
Stone III. 1983. The W.L. Moody Jr. Natural History Series.
Texas A&M University Press. College Station, Texas. |
The rough sagre is a
slender and small deep water shark. Both dorsal fins have an associated spine
at their origin. This shark is of uniform colour being black or brownish black.
It grows to a maximum size of approximately 75 cm (30 inches). The teeth on the
upper jaw have 5 smooth edged cusps while the lower teeth have a single oblique
cusp. Early reports suggested that it possessed photophores (light producing
organs), and thus referred to it as the lantern shark. However, later reports
suggest that it is not luminescent.
Diet
The diet of this shark is
unknown.
Reproduction
Little is known about
reproduction in this shark although development is assumed to be
ovoviviparous.
Habitat
This is a deep dwelling
animal that is often found at depths between 570 and 2200 meters (1870 to 7300
feet). A report of a capture on the Scotian Shelf was at a depth of 950 meters
(3100 feet).
Range
The rough sagre occurs in
both the western and eastern North Atlantic. In the western North Atlantic it
is present off southern Nova Scotia to southern New England.
Distinguishing
Characteristics
- Uncertain if it has luminescent
photophores
- No anal fin
- Dorsal fin spines
- Thorn-like, nearly erect dermal
denticles
- Upper teeth with 5 cusps, lower teeth
oblique with single cusp
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