Diagnosis

A moderately-sized (to at least 160 cm) drab-coloured shark with no anal fin and two dorsal fins with prominent spines. First dorsal fin low but not particularly elongate; height (measured from anterior spine origin) and base measure 5.4 and 8.5% of TL respectively.  Large reflective green eyes with prominent spiracles behind; teeth small and bladelike, with those in the lower-jaw larger than those in the upper-jaw. The posterior tips of the pectoral fins are noticeably long and angular, extending well beyond the level of the first dorsal fin spine. Lateral trunk dermal denticles broad, block-like and without conspicuous cusps; scallop-like; not overlapping. Colour olive-grey, grey-brown or sandy grey with no obvious markings in adults; juveniles may have lighter margins on all the fins and dusky tips on the dorsal and caudal fins.

Size

To at least 160 cm; common at 70 to 110 cm. Size at birth 30 to 40cm, possibly greater.

Status and Distribution

N.E. Atlantic: Frequent or locally abundant. Cosmopolitan from ca.45N southwards. Bay of Biscay, along entire Iberian Peninsula and West African coasts, continuing to equatorial waters (Zaire). Insular occurrences at Madeira, Canaries and Cape Verde Islands.
Mediterranean Sea: Frequent or locally common in the deepwaters of the entire  Western basin; also North African coast including Libya and Egypt; deeper parts of the lower Adriatic; somewhat less common eastwards of Ionian Sea but ranges through all southeastern parts of the region including the Aegean.

Biology

An abundant shark of shelf and upper slope deepwaters, found on or near the bottom in depths of 100 to 1200 m, and typically 350 to 500m in the Mediterranean, the gulper is one of the more frequent deepwater species seen at fishmarkets in N.W. Africa and the Western-Central Mediterranean. Despite its relative abundance and frequent commercial exploitation, many aspects of its biology remain scantily-known. Preys on hake, lanternfish and other deepwater bony fish; also squid and epigonids.  Ovoviviparous but precise details of reproductive biology lacking.