Scymnodon ringens Barbosa du Bocage & de Brito Capello, 1864
Knifetooth dogfish
photo by Serrano, A.

Family:  Somniosidae (Sleeper sharks)
Max. size:  110 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 200 - 1600 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: along the slope from Scotland to Spain, Portugal, Senegal. Southwest Pacific: New Zealand (Ref. 26346).
Diagnosis:  Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. Black in color; small dorsal fin spines; short snout; small lanceolate teeth without cusplets in upper jaw and huge high, knife-cusped cutting teeth in lower jaw; mouth very wide and broadly arched; caudal fin with weak subterminal notch and no lower lobe (Ref. 247).
Biology:  A rare species (Ref. 26346) inhabiting continental slopes (Ref. 247). Usually mesopelagic although taken most often near the bottom (Ref. 10717). Its razor-edged lower teeth is used to attack and dismember large prey (Ref. 247). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). Utilized dried salted for human consumption and for fishmeal (Ref. 247).
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 21 November 2019 (A2bd) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  traumatogenic


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