Roughskin Spurdog Jaw with Data ex Dr. Gordon Hubbell

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Roughskin Spurdog Jaw with Data (Squalus asper / Cirrhigaleus asper)

Before this shark had a genus of its own, it was Squalus asper — and that's exactly what this jaw says. First described in 1973 by British ichthyologist Nigel Merrett as Squalus asper, the name was shortly afterward changed to Cirrhigaleus asper following closer morphological examination Wikipedia. A specimen labeled with the original name places this jaw in a specific moment in taxonomic history, making it a piece with a story that goes beyond the biology. Combined with Dr. Gordon Hubbell's collection provenance, this is exactly the kind of specimen that distinguishes a serious collection from an ordinary one.

Species & Classification

• Scientific Name (current): Cirrhigaleus asper (Merrett, 1973)
• Original Name (as labeled): Squalus asper Merrett, 1973 — the species' name at time of description
• Common Names: Roughskin Spurdog, Roughskin Dogfish, Roughskin Dogshark, Roughskin Spiny Dogfish
• Family: Squalidae (Dogfish Sharks)
• Order: Squaliformes
• Etymology: asper is Latin for "rough," directly referencing the shark's distinctive rough skin texture Etyfish; Cirrhigaleus derives from the Latin cirrus (curl fringe) and the Greek galeos (a shark) FishBase

Biology & Physical Characteristics

• Heavy-bodied dogfish with a blunt, rounded snout, large denticles, and noticeably rough skin; body without spots; first dorsal fin spine positioned behind the pectoral fins Shark-References
• Broad, flat snout; large spiracles; front nasal flaps broad with a short, stubby barbel; teeth similar in both jaws — small, compressed, single-cusped, strongly oblique and deeply notched Shorefishes
• Dark grey or brown above, lighter below; white edges on all fins; juveniles brown Shark-References
• Maximum recorded length 118 cm, commonly around 90 cm; size at birth 25–28 cm Sharks and Rays
• Maturity reached at approximately 110 cm; two dorsal fins each bearing a long spine, with the second dorsal approaching the size of the first FishBase

Habitat & Distribution

• Found circumglobally between latitudes 35°N and 35°S, at depths of 200–600 m Wikipedia
• Western Atlantic: North Carolina to the Florida Keys and the northern Gulf of Mexico; Western Indian Ocean: southern Mozambique to South Africa, Réunion, Comoros, and the Aldabra Islands; Eastern Central Pacific: Hawaiian Islands Shark-References
• Wide but fragmented range; the Atlantic and Pacific populations are suspected to represent distinct species Sharks and Rays — making verified locality data on any specimen scientifically critical
• Tropical and subtropical deepwater species of the continental shelf and upper slope; sometimes found near bays and river mouths Sharks and Rays

Diet & Behavior

• Feeds on bony fishes and cephalopods; heavy body suggests a relatively sedentary lifestyle Sharks and Rays
• Considered harmless to humans, though the prominent dorsal fin spines require care when handling

Reproduction

• Ovoviviparous, with 21–22 young per litter Shark-References — a notably high litter size for a deepwater squaloid
• Aplacental viviparous; litter size ranges from 18–23 Sharks and Rays

Conservation Status

• Listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN — no species-specific catch data is available Florida Museum
• Not directly targeted in any fisheries but incidentally caught in demersal trawl and longline operations across its range Sharks and Rays
• Likely to have undergone declines in Central and South America where industrial and artisanal fisheries are intense and largely unmanaged Sharks and Rays

Misc. & Collector Facts

• A jaw labeled Squalus asper carries the original 1973 species name — predating the genus reassignment to Cirrhigaleus — giving it historic taxonomic value beyond a standard specimen
• Generic validity and taxonomic placement of Cirrhigaleus asper remain under active scientific debate, with morphological and molecular evidence sometimes suggesting reallocation back to Squalus PubMed — a specimen bearing the original Squalus asper label is scientifically prescient
• The extraordinarily rough skin — caused by unusually large denticles with conspicuous cusplets — is unique among Squalidae and makes this jaw immediately distinguishable
• Atlantic and Pacific populations are suspected to represent distinct species Sharks and Rays — locality data on this jaw is a defining factor in its scientific identity
• Dr. Gordon Hubbell provenance adds significant authentication and collectibility value
• Ideal for: Squaliformes collectors, taxonomy-focused collections, dogfish specialists, natural history and museum-quality displays