Angular Rough Shark

fieldmarks: Short, blunt snout, high, sail-like dorsal fins with spines, no anal fin, first dorsal spine inclined forward, high, thick, triangular body with large, rough denticles, massive knobs on supraorbital ridges, vertically elongated spiracles, lanceolate upper teeth, lower bladelike teeth in less than 12 rows, colour pattern of darker marks on a light background. Spiracle large and vertically elongated, crescent or oval in shape. Supraorbital ridges enlarged over eyes, with a knoblike posterior expansion studded with large denticles and ending in front of spiracles. Apices of dorsal fins broadly triangular, posterior margins shallowly concave; first dorsal spine inclined forward. Grey or grey-brown above and below, with darker blotches on head and sides; a light horizontal line separates dark areas on head and another crosses cheeks below eyes.

Eastern Atlantic: Bay of Biscay and Mediterranean Sea to Senegal, north apparently as a stray to Cornwall, England; also possibly from Liberia to Nigeria, Gabon to Namibia, and South Africa.

Maximum total length about 150 cm, but most individuals smaller; maturing at about 50 cm.

An uncommon, little-known bottom shark of the continental shelf and upper slope,at depths of 60 to 660 m. Ovoviviparous, litters probably of 7 or 8 young. Eats polychaetes.

Caught in bottom and pelagic trawls. Utilized for fishmeal, oil, and smoked and dried salted for human consumption.Apparently not abundant and mainly a minor bycatch of large offshore trawler fleets.