The Portuguese dogfish has a stout body with a short snout and large mouth, short labial furrows. They have very small spines on small equal-sized dorsal fins, second fin close to asymmetrical caudal fin. They have large round flat overlapping denticles in adults.

SIZE

These sharks grow to a length for males 32.4 inches and females 39.2 inches, maximum length of 47.2 inches. Size at birth approximately 11.10 inches long.

TEETH

They have slender upper teeth, short bent cusps on broader lower teeth.

COLOR

These sharks are usually uniformly blackish to golden-brown color

FEEDING HABITS

Portuguese dogfish feed on bony fishes, other sharks, benthic invertebrates and cetacean and seal meat.

BEHAVIOUR

Can take bites out of live prey ( like the cookiecutter sharks ).

HABITAT

Portuguese dogfish are found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. These sharks are found on or near bottom of continental slopes, and in abyssal plain waters in depths of 1,312 feet.

LIFE SPAN

Unknown

REPRODUCTION

They are ovoviviparous and gives birth to litters from 13-17 pups.

SHARK ATTACKS

No known report of attacks.

POPULATION REPORTS

According to the IUCN Red List, they are near threatened because of a long history of bycatch and target deepwater fisheries, used for fishmeal and squalene from liver oil.