What is the dog shark called? - briefly
The dog shark is commonly known as the spurdog or piked dogfish.
What is the dog shark called? - in detail
The dog shark, also known as the spotted gulper shark (Centrophorus zygaena), is a rare and poorly understood deep-sea species belonging to the family Centrophoridae. This intriguing creature is named for its unique appearance, which includes a distinctive snout resembling that of a dog, combined with prominent dark spots on a lighter background, giving it an overall dog-like appearance. The spotted gulper shark inhabits deep waters around the world, typically at depths between 600 to 1200 meters, making direct observations challenging and contributing to the limited knowledge about this species. Its diet primarily consists of small fish and crustaceans, which it captures using its specialized mouth that can expand to accommodate large prey. Despite its elusive nature, the spotted gulper shark plays a significant role in maintaining the balance of deep-sea ecosystems by controlling populations of smaller organisms.