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

NO INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING

Smallfin Gulper Shark Jaw with Data (Centrophorus moluccensis)

Gulper sharks as a group are trophies in the deepwater collector world — and the Smallfin is one of the more geographically widespread and scientifically complex members of the genus. This jaw comes from Dr. Gordon Hubbell's collection, assembled with the kind of patience and reach that produced specimens most collectors will never have access to. For anyone building a serious Centrophorus series or a deepwater Squaliformes display, this is a foundational piece.

Species & Classification

• Scientific Name: Centrophorus moluccensis (Bleeker, 1860)
• Common Names: Smallfin Gulper Shark, Endeavour Dogfish, Arrowspine Dogfish, Southern Dogfish
• 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; moluccensis is a Latin suffix denoting place — the Moluccas Islands, Indonesia, the type locality FishBase

Biology & Physical Characteristics

• Small, slender gulper shark with a long, narrow snout; short-based first dorsal fin and very small second dorsal fin; elongated pectoral rear tips; small and flat denticles Shark-References
• Grayish brown dorsally, paler ventrally; juveniles have dark fins with pale edges Shark-References
• No anal fin; two dorsal fins with spines; long free rear tips on pectoral fins; deeply notched caudal fin Wikipedia
• Maximum length 100 cm; maximum published weight 2.4 kg FishBase
• Maturity reached at approximately 80 cm FishBase

Habitat & Distribution

• Depth range of 125–823 m; bathydemersal — found near the bottom in deep water FishBase
• Western Indian Ocean: southern Mozambique and off Natal, South Africa; India. Western Pacific: Japan (Okinawa), Indonesia (Ambon), Philippines, Australia, New Hebrides, and New Caledonia Shark-References
• Gulper sharks including C. moluccensis are generally found at depths between 200–2,400 meters on upper continental and insular slopes Academia.edu
• Australian populations are regarded as Near Threatened in the Eastern zone and Least Concern in the Western populations Wikipedia

Diet

• Diet is primarily bony fish, but also includes other sharks, molluscs, crustaceans, and even tunicates Wikipedia

Reproduction

• Ovoviviparous with two pups per litter Wikipedia — an exceptionally low reproductive rate that makes populations highly sensitive to fishing pressure
• Like all gulper sharks, slow maturation and minimal fecundity render this species vulnerable to even moderate exploitation

Conservation Status

• Conservation status varies by region — Near Threatened for Australian eastern populations
• Gulper sharks are commercially exploited for both human consumption and the high squalene content of their livers; stocks are extremely vulnerable to over-exploitation ConnectSci
• Taxonomic confusion across the Centrophorus genus complicates identification in commercial contexts Academia.edu, making documented specimens with verified data all the more scientifically significant

Misc. & Collector Facts

• Poor sampling and taxonomic confusion complicate the identification of Centrophorus species Academia.edu — a jaw with confirmed locality and collection data is therefore far more valuable than an undocumented specimen
• The smallfin gulper is closely related to the Lowfin Gulper (C. lusitanicus) but is distinguished by its significantly smaller second dorsal fin and more slender profile — pairing both jaws makes for an exceptional comparative display
• With only two pups per litter, this species represents one of the lowest reproductive rates of any shark — a biological fact that underscores the rarity and significance of any specimen in a private collection
• Dr. Gordon Hubbell provenance adds significant authentication and collectibility value
• Ideal for: deepwater shark collectors, Squaliformes and Centrophoridae specialists, natural history displays, museum-quality specimens