---
title: "Portuguese Dogfish"
description: "Centroscymnus coelolepis — Fish. The Portuguese dogfish (Centroscymnus coelolepis) or Portuguese shark, is a species of sleeper shark of the family Somniosidae."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/portuguese-dogfish
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Portuguese Dogfish

> Centroscymnus coelolepis — Fish. The Portuguese dogfish (Centroscymnus coelolepis) or Portuguese shark, is a species of sleeper shark of the family Somniosidae.

- Scientific name: *Centroscymnus coelolepis*
- Category: `fish` (Fish)
- Habitats: `sea` (Sea & coast)
- iNaturalist observations: 16
- Wikidata: [Q2323403](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2323403)
- iNaturalist taxon: [59796](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/59796)

## Names

- en: Portuguese Dogfish
- de: Portugiesendornhai
- fr: Pailona commun
- nl: Portugese ijshaai

## Countries with the most observations

PT (3)

## Summary

The Portuguese dogfish (Centroscymnus coelolepis) or Portuguese shark, is a species of sleeper shark of the family Somniosidae. This globally distributed species has been reported down to a depth of 3,675 m (12,057 ft), making it the deepest-living shark known. It inhabits lower continental slopes and abyssal plains, usually staying near the bottom. Stocky and dark brown in color, the Portuguese dogfish can be distinguished from similar-looking species (such as the kitefin shark, Dalatias licha) by the small spines in front of its dorsal fins. Its dermal denticles are also unusual, resembling the scales of a bony…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_dogfish

## Photo

![Portuguese Dogfish](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/portuguese-dogfish/medium.jpg)

Photo: unknown · Public domain · commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Centroscymnus_coelolepis.jpg

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/portuguese-dogfish?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).