Caribbean Roughshark

Oxynotus caribbaeus is a small shark found in the upper continental slope of Venezuela; it is easily distinguishable from other Oxynotus species. Adult males reach a maximum size of 50 cm (1.6 ft) in length and the females are thought to grow even longer, although none has been examined. The Caribbean roughshark has a short, blunt snout and head. This chubby-looking shark looks nothing like the typical shark. It has two dorsal fins that help differentiate this shark from other Oxynotus species. Its first dorsal fin is inclined forward, is very long and thick, and triangular in shape. The second dorsal fin is similar to the first, although it is not as long. However, as some other Oxynotus species, the Caribbean roughshark does not have an anal fin. It has the typical shark coarse dermal denticles, but these are atypically large for the size of the shark. It contains small, circular spiracles at the dorsal base of its head. The supraorbital ridges are not expanded and do not form a knob in front of the spiracles. It has lanceolate upper teeth, containing 12 rows and lower bladelike teeth containing 12 rows. It has distinct color features that make it easily identifiable. On the head, body, and tail, it has light, greyish skin, patterned with dark bands and blotches, although it contains noticeably lighter color patterns on its pectoral fins and pelvic fins.

Oxynotus caribbeaus is found in the western Atlantic Ocean, also near the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. However, sightings of the Caribbean roughshark have happened in the waters off of the Bahamas, Honduras, and Venezuela. It occupies water at a range of 400 and 450 m (1,310 and 1,480 ft). At that range, the water temperature is at about 10 °C. This means it has a bathydemersal habitat or is a demersal fish.

Little is known about this shark, but due to its unusual dentition, the spear-shaped upper teeth and blade-like lower teeth, it feeds on invertebrates and fishes found near the bottom of their habitat.