Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Chondrichthyes
- Order
- Carcharhiniformes
- Family
- Centrophoridae
- Genus
- Centrophorus
- Species
- moluccensis
Habitat
This shark inhabits deep waters on continental slopes and seamounts, typically at depths of 200 to 1,000 meters in the Indo-Pacific region. It prefers cooler, darker environments and is often found over muddy or sandy bottoms. Geographic preferences include areas around Australia, Indonesia, and Japan.
Diet
The Smallfin gulper shark primarily feeds on bony fish, squid, and crustaceans, using its large mouth to engulf prey whole. It hunts in deep waters, likely at night or in low-light conditions, employing ambush tactics to capture food. Feeding behavior is opportunistic, targeting whatever prey is available in its benthic habitat.
Behavior
This species is generally solitary and nocturnal, spending most of its time near the ocean floor. It exhibits minimal territorial behavior but may migrate vertically in the water column to follow prey. Notable behaviors include slow swimming and the ability to tolerate low oxygen levels in deep waters.
Conservation Status
Listed as Data Deficient by IUCN.