Centroscymnus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Centroscymnus
Roughskin dogfish Centroscymnus owstonii Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Chondrichthyes
Order:	Squaliformes
Family:	Somniosidae
Genus:	Centroscymnus Barbosa du Bocage & Brito Capello, 1864

Centroscymnus is a group of deep-sea sharks. These sharks are often called sleeper sharks because they move slowly and are not very active. They belong to a larger family of sharks called Somniosidae.

These sharks live in the deep parts of the ocean, far below where sunlight can reach. They are found in different parts of the world's oceans.

Types of Centroscymnus Sharks

There are two main types, or species, of Centroscymnus sharks that scientists know about:

• Portuguese Dogfish (Centroscymnus coelolepis): This shark was first described by scientists Barbosa du Bocage and Brito Capello in 1864. It is known for living in very deep waters.
• Roughskin Dogfish (Centroscymnus owstonii): This species was described by scientist Samuel Garman in 1906. It gets its name from its rough skin.

Where These Sharks Live

Centroscymnus sharks are found in many different parts of the world. They live in the deep ocean waters off the coasts of:

• Southern Africa
• Southern Australia
• Japan
• New Zealand

They are marine fish, meaning they live only in saltwater.

More About Sharks

If you want to learn more about sharks, you can check out these resources:

• In Spanish: Centroscymnus para niños