The family of rough sharks consists of only 4 species. They have a very unique appearance including an unmistakable short body with strong abdominal ridges and very high, sail-like spined dorsal fins. Rough sharks possess a head which is slightly depressed, with large spiracles behind the eyes. They prefer deeper water over the continental shelves or upper slopes between 40 to about 700m depths. Judging from their appearance they are probably sluggish animals. Their mouths are very small with small but with strong teeth, suggesting a diet of small bottom invertebrates and fishes. Rough sharks show an ovoviviparous style of reproduction (aplacental viviparity) with a litter of 7 or 8. All species belong to the same genus, Oxynotus.
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