Dwarf Gulper Shark Jaw w/DATA ex Dr. Gordon Hubbell

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Dwarf Gulper Shark Jaw with Data (Centrophorus atromarginatus)

Don't let the name fool you — there is nothing small about the significance of this specimen. The Dwarf Gulper is one of the least documented members of an already poorly understood genus, and a jaw with verified collection data from Dr. Gordon Hubbell's collection represents exactly the kind of material that doesn't surface in the market twice. For collectors building a Centrophorus series, or anyone who values the intersection of scarcity and scientific weight, this is the one.

Species & Classification

• Scientific Name: Centrophorus atromarginatus (Garman, 1913)
• Common Names: Dwarf Gulper Shark, Blackfin Gulper Shark
• Family: Centrophoridae (Gulper Sharks)
• Order: Squaliformes
• Etymology: Centrophorus derives from the Latin centrum (prickle or sharp point) and Greek phoreus (bearer or carrier), referring to the grooved spines on the dorsal fins; atromarginatus comes from the Latin ater (black) and marginatus (bordered) — referring to the black edging on the fins FishBase

Biology & Physical Characteristics

• Adults have prominently black-tipped dorsal fins, conspicuously marked from the base — the species' most immediately identifiable field characteristic Shark-References
• Slim, relatively long body with two dorsal fins bearing long grooved spines; second dorsal fin shorter than the first, with a base approximately three-fourths the length of the first dorsal Wikipedia
• Coloration olive-grey to grey-brown or sandy grey dorsally, lighter ventrally with no obvious markings in adults; juveniles may have dusky tips on dorsal and caudal fins Wikipedia
• Maximum recorded length 87 cm Shark-References
• Females grow up to 78 cm; males maximum recorded at 60 cm Sharkwater
• No anal fin; bathydemersal in habit

Habitat & Distribution

• Indo-West Pacific: Gulf of Aden, Japan, Taiwan, and northern Papua New Guinea Shark-References
• Depth range of 183–450 m; bathydemersal — found near the bottom in deep water Shark-References
• Often confused with Centrophorus granulosus Shark-References — making verified specimen data essential for confident identification
• Landed from Japanese and Taiwanese waters as part of deepwater shark fisheries ConnectSci

Diet

• Likely feeds on other deep-sea dwellers including crustaceans, shrimps, squids, and small fish Sharkwater
• As a Squaliform, C. atromarginatus has high amounts of squalene in its liver — a commercially valuable compound for which the species is targeted Animalia.bio

Reproduction

• Ovoviviparous; embryos feed solely on yolk; exhibits distinct pairing with embrace during mating Shark-References
• Gives birth to a single pup, born at 28–36 cm — one of the lowest reproductive outputs of any shark species Shark-References
• Falls within the Centrophorus group characterized by obligatory singular fecundity ConnectSci — one pup per litter, every reproductive cycle

Conservation Status

• Population data is extremely limited; biology and maturity sizes remain poorly defined
• Gulper shark stocks are extremely vulnerable to over-exploitation; taxonomy and biology of many species are not clearly defined ConnectSci
• Discovered only in the early 20th century; relatively little information is available on population size and behavior Sharkwater
• Commercially targeted for its squalene-rich liver, adding pressure to an already data-deficient species Animalia.bio

Misc. & Collector Facts

• The single-pup litter makes this one of the most reproductively limited sharks known — each individual lost to fishing represents a significant biological cost, which in turn makes preserved specimens with data a genuine historical record
• The striking black-tipped dorsal fins are unique among Centrophorus — making the jaw immediately attributable to species level by experienced collectors
• Often confused with Centrophorus granulosus Shark-References — collection data accompanying this jaw provides the provenance needed to distinguish it with confidence
• Pairs exceptionally well alongside C. moluccensis (Smallfin Gulper) and C. lusitanicus (Lowfin Gulper) jaws for a complete Centrophorus genus display
• Dr. Gordon Hubbell provenance adds significant authentication and collectibility value
• Ideal for: deepwater shark collectors, Squaliformes and Centrophoridae specialists, genus-level display collections, museum-quality specimens