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Velvet dogfish facts for kids

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Velvet dogfish
Zameus squamulosus.jpg
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Genus:
Zameus
Species:
squamulosus
Zameus squamulosus distmap.png
Range of the velvet dogfish
Synonyms
  • Centrophorus squamulosus Günther, 1877
  • Scymnodon obscurus Vaillant, 1888
  • Scymnodon niger Chu & Meng, 1982
  • Scymnodon squamulosus Günther, 1877

The velvet dogfish (Zameus squamulosus), the only member of the genus Zameus, is a harmless sleeper shark of the family Somniosidae, found around the world between latitudes 64°N and 48°S, from the surface to 2,000 m. Its length is up to 84 cm. Although sharks within the family Somniosidae have generally been accepted to be non-luminous, Zameus squamulosus has photophores on its ventral epidermis.

Reproduction is ovoviviparous.

In June 2018 the New Zealand Department of Conservation classified the velvet dogfish as "Data Deficient" with the qualifier "Uncertain whether Secure Overseas" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.

See also

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