| Photo |
Spiny dogfish
© Jeremy Stafford Deitsch
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| Range Map |
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| Systematics |
Phylum: Vertebates (Chordata)
Class: Carlilagenous Fishes (Chondrichthyes)
Order: Dogfish sharks (Squaliformes)
Family: Dogfish sharks (Squalidae)
Genus: Squalus (Squalus)
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| Name |
| Scientific: | Squalus acanthias |
| German: | Dornhai |
| English: | Spiny dogfish, Piked dogfish |
| French: | Aiguillat commun |
| Spanish: | Mielga |
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| Appearance |
Small shark with two dorsal fins with ungrooved large spines. No anal fin. First dorsal spine origin is behind the pectoral rear tips. Lateral keels on caudal peduncle and upper precaudal pit. No subterminal notch on the caudal fin. No anal fin.
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| Coloration |
Grey-brown upper body with whitish ventral surface. White spots along entire body.
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| Distribution |
Western Atlantic: Greenland, Labrador to Florida, Argentina. Eastern Atlantic: Iceland, Scandinavia, Great Britain to Morocco and western Sahara. Canary Islands. Mediterranean and Black Sea. Around South Africa, Western Pacific: Bering Sea to Japan, Sea of Okhots, Korea and northern China, southern Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand. Eastern Pacific: Bering Sea to southern Baja California, Chile.
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| Biology |
A well studied species. This is probably the most abundant shark species of all. Lives preferably close to bottom. Slow swimming. Found over the continental and insular shelves and upper slopes down to approximately 900 m. This species can tolerate brackish water and is often found in enclosed bays and estuaries.
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| Feeding |
Feeds mainly on fishes, preferably schooling fishes, invertebrates, cephalopods, crustaceans, and even sea cucumbers and jellyfishes.
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| Size |
Relatively small, average size between 80 cm and 110 cm, total maximum length about 160 cm.
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| Reproduction |
Aplacental viviparous (ovoviviparous). Up to 20 pups per litter. Size at birth about 20 cm. Gestation period lasts about 22 months. Sexual maturity is reached at an age of about 20 years (sometimes even later) or a size of about 60 cm. Maximum age is estimated to be around 70 years.
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| Similar Species |
Some similar species but none with white spots.
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| Endangerment |
Status in the IUCN
Red List(1994):
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| Main criterion: |
 LR/nt (Low Risk/Near Threatened (1994)) |
| Sub criterion: |
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| Trend: |
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| Danger to Humans |
Harmless.
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