Cool Facts About The Angular Roughshark
- Looking at the picture above, you can probably guess how the Angular Roughshark received their name – Yep, that’s right, it is a result of their pointed fins and head.
- These sharks are also known to covered with rough scales, which are called denticles (say this word out loud…it is a lot of fun to say). This attribute naturally lead to the “roughshark” portion of their name
- If you would like to catch a glimpse of the Angular Roughshark, you may want to start looking into ocean cruises traveling through the easter Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea (and don’t forget to invite me on these trips!)
The Shark With Many Names
While the name, Angular Roughshark seems appropriate, it is important to note that these lovable creatures also have a few other names, including:
- Centrina Shark
- Flatiron Shark
- Centrine Commune
- Cerdo Marino
- Prickly Dogfish – This is my personal favourite
Believe it or not, this is just the tip of the iceberg. For a full list of common names, check out http://thewebsiteofeverything.com/animals/fish/Squaliformes/Oxynotidae/Oxynotus-centrina
Why So Many Names?
So how can one shark have so many names? Sure some are French and others are Spanish but I think animals with such an unique appearance like the Angular Roughshark tend to get many more names then your everyday animal. What do I mean by this? Well, these sharks have a host of attributes that are not common in other species. For example, they don’t have an anal fin, their heads are blunt and flat, they have the two giant dorsal fins and to top it all off, they have large ridges over their eyes. This definitely gives any scientist plenty of descriptive words to help them with their naming project.
You know what, I think we need to watch a short video clip to really understand how unique and beautiful this shark really is. As well, the video below gives you a really good size comparison as they are swimming next to a human.
