The scientific species was first described in 2007 [2] . The holotype is an adult male 65.1 cm long, caught in 2004 off Raoul Island (29 Β° 14 'S and 177 Β° 53' W), New Zealand, at a depth of 320 m. Paratypes: female 72.9 cm and an adult male 68.1 cm long, caught there [3] . The species is named after its habitat (Raul Island). Squalus raoulensis are very similar to Squalus griffini , but they are different species belonging to the complex of Squalus megalops β cubensis species [1] .
Squalus raoulensis live in the southwestern Pacific Ocean off the islands of Kermadek, in particular off the coast of Raul Island. Perhaps their range is more extensive and extends to oceanic underwater ridges in the southwestern Pacific. These sharks are found in the upper part of the island slope at a depth of up to 320 m [2] .
The maximum registered size is 72.9 cm. The body is slim and elongated. The snout is rather short. The nostrils are framed by bifurcated skin folds. The distance from the tip of the snout to the mouth is 2.3 times the width of the mouth. The distance from the tip of the snout to the eyes is 2 times their length. Large oval eyes are elongated horizontally. Behind the eyes there are splashes . Spikes are located at the base of the dorsal fins. The first dorsal fin is larger than the second. It has a vertical position, the tip is rounded. The height of the spike located at its base is 0.6-0.7% of the body length. The spine at the base of the second dorsal fin is shorter in height than the fin. Caudal fin long and narrow, asymmetrical, notched at the edge of a longer upper lobe. Anal fin missing. The color is gray or gray-brown, the belly is lighter. A light border extends along the caudal edge of the caudal fin. The number of vertebrae in the axial skeleton is 112-113 [2] .
These sharks are likely to breed by egg production. Males reach puberty with a length of 65.1 cm. The size of sexually mature females is unknown, since not a single adult female has yet come across [2] .
The species is not an object of targeted fishing. In the area of ββthese sharks, commercial fishing is practically not carried out. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assigned this species a conservation status of βLeast Concernsβ [1] .
