Angular roughshark
Spotted scorpionfish ( Oxynotus centrina )
The spotted scorpionfish ( Oxynotus centrina ) is a species of shark from the kind of pig sharks ( Oxynotus ). The range of the species is located in the eastern Atlantic and extends from the west coast of the British Isles over the Bay of Biscay and the coast of the Iberian Peninsula to the coast of Senegal. In addition, it is found in the Mediterranean and rarely in the northern North Sea and Skagerrak. Compagno et al. give a distribution and south of the Equator to the Cape Peninsula in South Africa, but show the local pig sharks a much greater distance between the dorsal fins than the north of the Equator trapped animals.
Appearance and characteristics
The spotted scorpionfish is an unusual -looking shark with a relatively high-backed body and a bristly textured skin. It reaches a maximal length of 120 to 150 cm, but is usually in a length of 55 centimeters. The fish show a coarse, gray to gray- brown spot pattern. An anal fin is absent, the two dorsal fins are preceded by the proper typical spines. The first dorsal fin is just behind the pectoral fins, the second on the ventral fins. The sting of the first dorsal fin is directed obliquely forward and cuts the fin diagonally. Like all species of the family owned pets five gill slits and an injection hole behind the eye.
Way of life
The spotted scorpionfish lives close to the ground on the outer continental shelf and on the continental slopes at depths of 60-660 m in the eastern Ionian Sea it was detected at a depth of 777 meters. It feeds mainly on Vielborstern and spray worms, besides also of bony fishes, crustaceans and echinoderms. About their lifestyles are only little data. It is like other species of the order viviparous ( ovoviviparous ) and get seven to eight young per litter, which are 25 cm long at birth.
Endangering
The IUCN states in their Red List that Oxynotus centrina is at risk. The species is bycatch in this fishery.