Fish of the Day
Today's fish of the day is the black dogfish!
The black dogfish, also known by scientific name Centroscyllium fabricii, is a common deep fish. Found across the Atlantic ocean along the edge of the continental slope, spanning from the shores of Northern Canada, Southern Greenland, the UK, down the coast of Western Europe and Africa. There are also small populations off the coast of Argentina and Western South Africa. Ranging to depths as low as 1600 meters, although most are commonly found only 500-1000m. However, their depth range is closer to the surface in arctic areas, as well as temperate areas during winter, likely to remain within their preferred temperature range of 3.5-4.5 °C.
The diet of the black dogfish is similar to many other sharks, consisting of crustaceans, jellyfish, decapods, and fish. This diet allows these dogfish to get to a maximum length of 35 inches, although most adults will only range 23-30. The fish is also small enough to be regularly predated on by larger sharks and fish from below. Known for both their individual lifestyle, as well as their schooling behaviour. Female fish schooling in deeper waters. These schools are segregated by both sex, size, as well as speed of movement. Creating small groups, which increase in size when out of their preferred deepwater environment and come up to shallow waters. Due to the incredibly common shape and color of the black dogfish, they are regularly mistaken for other sharks, such as the great lanternshark. However, these fish can be determined by the erect cusped teeth, and possessing only one line and 68 of them. In future these fish may be identified by bioluminescent patterns, as these fish have small and close set denticles with pigmented dots, commonly found on bioluminescent species. However, thus far there is no record of how this bioluminescence may look.
Adults will hit sexual maturity as a particular size, males at 22 inches, and females at 26. These dogfish have no defined breeding season, breeding year round. Like many sharks, the black dogfish is ovoviviparous, meaning that pups hatch from their eggs inside the mother and are born live. These fish will have litter of anywhere from 4-40, and born pups will be born at 6 inches, and begin schooling with the mother. The juveniles will be marked by not only the small size, but also by a dark belly, lighter backside, and white edged fins. However, as they age they will gain the distinctive black-brown coloring.
That's the fish of the day, everyone!