Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Squaliformes (Sleeper and dogfish sharks) >
Somniosidae (Sleeper sharks)
Etymology: Centroselachus: centr[um] (L.), prickle or sharp point, referring to spines on both dorsal fins; selachos (Gr.), a cartilaginous fish (i.e., shark or ray). (See ETYFish); crepidater: crepida (L.), low shoe (e.g., slipper); ater (L.), black, transliteration of Portuguese vernacular sapata preta, black shoe, allusion not explained, possibly referring to superficial resemblance to a black velvet slipper [see also Deania calceus, Centrophoridae]. (See ETYFish).