Spurdog shark

Squalus acanthias

  • Where it lives:

  • Non native species

About

Also known as the spiny dogfish, the spurdog is a predator that feeds on bony fish, and sometimes even smaller sharks! It is a migratory species that spends the winter months in deep water, and the summer months in warm coastal waters.

They often travel in groups which makes them an easier target for fisheries. It's difficult for these sharks to recover from overfishing, because they are very slow to reproduce, typically having 1 litter of pups every 2 years.

How to identify

The Spurdog shark has a pointed snout, large eyes, and spines in front of its dorsal fins. Its streamlined body is a grey/brown colour on top with a lighter belly and rows of white spots down its sides.

Did you know?

Female spurdog sharks have one of the longest pregnancies of any vertebrate, lasting between 18-22 months.

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