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Squalus acanthias

(Blue Dog, Cape Shark, Common Spiny Fish, Darwen Salmon, Dogfish, Grayfish, Pacific Dogfish, Piked Dogfish, Rock Salmon, Southern Spiny Dogfish, Spiky Dog, Spiny Dogfish, Spotted Spiny Dogfish, Spring Dogfish, Spur Dogfish, Spurdog, Victorian Spotted Dogfish, White-Spotted Dogfish, White-Spotted Spurdog)

Overview

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Family : Dogfish sharks ; Possibly the most abundant living shark (Ref. 247). An inshore and offshore dogfish of the continental and insular shelf and upper slopes (Ref. 247, 11230). Usually near the bottom , but also in midwater and at the surface (Ref. 26346). Often found in enclosed bays and estuaries (Ref. 247). Reported to enter freshwater (Ref. 11980) but cannot survive there for more than a few hours (Ref. 247). Schools mainly segregated by size and sex; mixed schools also reported (Ref. 247). Feeds primarily on bony fishes, also mollusks, crustaceans and other invertebrates (Ref. 247). The only species of horned sharks that can inflict toxins with its tail. Utilized for human consumption , liver oil , vitamins, sand paper, leather , fertilizer , etc. (Ref. 247, 27436). Eaten fried, broiled, and baked (Ref. 9988). Growth is slow. At sexual maturity, males are 60-70 cm long, females 75-90cm (Ref. 35388). Gestation period is 2 years (Ref. 36731).

Vulnerable
Threat status

Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in Afrikaans:

Doringhaai, Spikkel-Penhaai

Common Names in Albanian:

Peshkagen

Common Names in Arabic:

ﺔﻛﻮﺷﻮﺑﺃ, Abou Shoka, Abushoka, Kalb Bouchouika, Kelb Bahr, Kelb El Bahr, Wâwy

Common Names in Bulgarian:

Akula, Chernomorska Akula, Kuceska Akula, Morsko Kuce

Common Names in Catalan:

Agullat

Common Names in Croatian:

Kostelj, Kostilj, Košcak, Kucin

Common Names in Czech:

Žralok Ostroun Obecný

Common Names in Danish:

Almindelig Pighaj, Konge-Sanktpetersfisk, Kongeål, Pighaj

Common Names in Dutch:

Doornhaai, Gerookte Haaiwangen

Common Names in English:

Blue Dog, Cape Shark, Common Spiny, Common Spiny Fish, Darwen Salmon, Dogfish, Flagtail Wormfish, Flake, Grayfish, Huso Sturgeon, Huss, Pacific Dogfish, Picked Dogfish, Piked Dogfish, Rig, Rigg, Rock Salmon, Southern Spiny Dogfish, Spiky Dog, Spiny, Spiny Dogfish, Spotted Spiny Dogfish, Spring Dogfish, Spur Dogfish, Spurdog, Victorian Spotted Dogfish, White-Spotted Chromis, White-Spotted Dogfish, White-Spotted Spurdog

Common Names in Faroese:

Haúr, Hávur

Common Names in Finnish:

Piikkihai

Common Names in French:

Aiguillat, Aiguillat à Grosse Tête, Aiguillat Commun, Aiguillat Tacheté, Chien, Chien á Dard, Chien De Mer, Chien Piquet, Chien-Piquet, Requin épineux, Spinax, Squale Méditérranéen

Common Names in Gaelic, Iris:

An Fiogach Gobach

Common Names in German:

Dornfisch, Dornhai, Gefleckter Dornhai, Gemeiner Dornhai, Grundhai, Heinemanns Prachtkärpfling, Schillerlocken

Common Names in Greek:

Αγκαθίτης, Κεντρόνι, Κοκκάλας, Κοκκαλάς, Σκυλόψαρο, Σκύλος, Kentroni, Skyllos, Skylópsaro, Stictokentroni

Common Names in Greenlandic:

Eqalussuaq Kukilik

Common Names in Haida:

K´aaxada, K´aaxada Awga, K'aaxada, K'aaxada Awga, Q´ad, Q'ad

Common Names in Hebrew:

Kotsan Ktan Kotz, Qozan Qetan

Common Names in Icelandic:

Háfur, Heitreykt

Common Names in Italian:

Agoggiau, Aguggiao Rosso, Agugliau, Agusèo, Archilao, Arculate, Arquilato, Asià a Muso a Schizzo, Caddutu, Cagnoleto, Cagnolo, Can Bianco, Can Spinoso, Cendroene, Centrune, Cintroni, Cintrune, Ferraro, Ghialoru ´mperiali, Ghialoru 'mperiali, Ogghialuni, Smoca, Spinarolo, Spinarolo Bruno, Spinarolo Imperiale, Spineddu, Spinoelo, Stiracciole, Ugghiarule, Ugghiatu, Ujato, Ujatu

Common Names in Japanese:

Abura-Tsunozame

Common Names in Korean:

Kop-Sang-O

Common Names in Malay:

Geronggong

Common Names in Maltese:

Mazzola, Mazzola Bix-Xewka, Mazzola Griza, Mazzola Tal-Fanal

Common Names in Mandarin Chi:

Bái Ban Jiao Sha

Common Names in Mandarin Chinese:

柯氏角鯊, 白斑角鯊, Bái Ban Jiao Sha, Sà Shì Jiao Sha

Common Names in Manx:

Peegagh

Common Names in Maori:

Koinga, Makohuarau

Common Names in Norwegian:

Piggha, Pighai

Common Names in Polish:

Kolen

Common Names in Portuguese:

Cação Galhudo, Cação-Bagre, Cação-De-Espinho, Cação-Espinho, Cação-Prego, Galhudo, Galhudo Malhado, Galhudo-Malhado, Malhado Melga, Melga

Common Names in Rumanian:

Rechin, Câine De Mare, Rechin

Common Names in Russian:

акула колючая/катрановая, катран, нокотница, собака морская, Katran, Kolyuchaya Akula, Obyknovennaya Kolyuchaya Akula

Common Names in Salish:

Sk'ey'ek'shen

Common Names in Serbian:

Koscenjak

Common Names in Spanish:

Cazón Espinoso Común, Ferrón, Galludo, Galludo De Pintilla, Galludo Espinoso, Mielga, Pinchorro, Pinchudo, Tollo De Cachos

Common Names in Swedish:

Pigghaj

Common Names in Turkish:

Katran Baligi, Köpek Baligi, Mahmuzlu Camgöz, Mahmuzlucamgöz Baligi

Description

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Family Squalidae

Distribution: Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, boreal to tropical . Both dorsal fins with spines, not grooved ; teeth on lower jaw not much larger than those on upper jaw; upper precaudal pit usually present; caudal peduncle with a pair of lateral keels .The family Squalidae belongs to the Class Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays ) and the Order Squaliformes. It contains 2 genera and 10 species. It may be found in Marine environments and is primarily Marine. Members of this family are not used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are bearers. The main mode of swimming of adult fish in this family is subcarangiform. Compared with other fish, the activity level of this family tends to be normal. Members of this family have been dated back to the Cretaceous period. Etymology of this family name : Latin, squaleo, squalidus = with rough skin . 1591

Physical Description

Species Squalus acanthias

Distinctive Features: The spiny dogfish has a slender, elongate body and a moderately flattened head . The snout is narrow, tapering to a pointed tip . The eyes of this dogfish are moderately large. The first dorsal fin is located about halfway between the pectoral and pelvic fin origins and behind the rear tips of the pectoral fins. The second dorsal fin is about two-thirds the size of the first and is located behind the pelvic fins.

There are sharp dorsal fin spines at the anterior margins of the dorsal fins with the first about half as long and the second nearly as long as the anterior margins of their respective fins . The pectoral fins form nearly perfect equilateral triangles with rounded rear tips and slightly concave rear margins. The pelvic fins are closer to the second dorsal fin than the first dorsal. There are low lateral keels located on the caudal peduncle. There is no notch on the upper caudal lobe and the lower caudal lobe is not well-developed. There is no anal fin on the spiny dogfish.

Dentition: The upper and lower teeth are small and similar in shape with oblique points bent toward the outer corners of the mouth . The cusps are deeply notched outward with a single sharp point. These form a nearly continuous cutting edge from one corner of the mouth to the other. There are 28 upper teeth and 22-24 lower teeth in the jaws of the spiny dogfish.

Denticles : Dermal denticles of the spiny dogfish are small and low with three cusps. The central ridge is prominent and the lateral extensions are wing-like in appearance .

Color:

The dorsal surface of the spiny dogfish is slate-colored and may have a brownish cast . There is a lateral row of small white spots along each side from above the pectoral fins to above the pelvic fins. These spots of conspicuous on immature fish, fading with growth until they disappear entirely from some individuals. The edges of the first and second dorsal fins and the caudal fin appear dusky at birth but quickly fade. The ventral surface of the spiny dogfish ranges from pale gray to pure white.

Size/Age/Growth

The average size of the spiny dogfish is 28-39 inches (70-100 cm) with adult males ranging from 24-35 inches (60-90cm) and adult females from 30-42 inches (76-107 cm) in length. The maximum length of males is 39 inches (100 cm) and females 49 inches (124 cm). Mature females reach weights of 7.1-9.9 pounds (3.2-4.5 kg ), with a maximum recorded weight of 21.6 pounds (9.8 kg). The all-tackle game fish record is 15.7 pounds (7.14 kg) caught off the coast of Ireland, 1989. Females reach maturity at 12 years of age and from 29.9-30.1 inches (76-78 cm) in length, while most males mature at 6 years and about 23.6 inches (60 cm) in length. They live up to 25-30 years of age.

Habitat

Spiny dogfish are found epibenthically, however they do move through the water column , up to surface water. These dogfish are found in inshore and offshore waters over the continental shelf to depths of 2950 feet (900 m ). Although they can tolerate brackish water, spiny dogfish prefer full-strength seawater and do not enter freshwater habitats .

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 1,659 meters (0 to 5,443 feet).Mean = -256.160 meters (-840.420 feet), Standard Deviation = 522.690 based on 19,923 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre.

Biome: Brackish water, saltwater . Benthopelagic.

Ecology: Spiny dogfish are ovoviviparous. Their 18 to 22 month gestation period (Compagno 1984) is among the longest of any animal. Pups measure between 20 and 30 cm at birth (Castro 1983). Fecundity increases with size (Templeman 1944, Nammack et al. 1985). Castro (1983) reported that, in the North Atlantic, dogfish pup offshore in deepwater wintering grounds , while Templeman (1944) suggested mature females off Newfoundland pup inshore January through May. Spiny dogfish move into the waters off the San Juan Islands of Washington (US) to pup in July and August (Camhi 1999).

Spiny dogfish prey opportunistically on a variety of small fish and invertebrates (Castro 1983). Aside from humans, adult dogfish have few enemies. They are eaten by larger sharks , large bony fishes, seals, and killer whales (Castro 1983, Compagno 1984). Although dogfish are regularly blamed for preying heavily on economically valuable groundfish , stomach content analyses reveal that most groundfish are uncommon in dogfish diets and the amount of groundfish removed by dogfish is a small fraction of fishery removal and stock sizes (Link et al. 2002).

Spiny dogfish are highly migratory, travelling in large, dense "packs ", segregated by size and sex. Primarily epibenthic , they are not known to associate with any particular habitat (McMillan and Morse 1999). They are thought to mate in winter (Castro 1983, Compagno 1984). In Australia, breeding occurs in large bays and estuaries (Last and Stevens 1994), while North Atlantic mating grounds are still unknown.

Spiny dogfish reach maturity late and are very long-lived. Nammack et al. (1985) reported that individuals in the Pacific grow more slowly and larger than those in the Atlantic. Life history characteristics are summarized below. Smith et al. (1998) found spiny dogfish to have the lowest intrinsic rebound potential of 26 shark species analysed.


List of Habitats:9.1Marine Neritic - Pelagic 9.10Marine Neritic - Estuaries 10.1Marine Oceanic - Epipelagic (0-200m)

Biology

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Diet

Dogfish have earned a bad reputation among fishermen for their voracious appetites. They are known to drive off commercially caught fish including mackerel and herring , while consuming large numbers of them. Spiny dogfish have been observed biting through nets to get at fishes , releasing many of them in the process . Schooling pelagic fishes make up the majority of the diet of the spiny dogfish. These include herring, menhaden , capelin, sand lance, and mackerel. Other consumed species include wolffish and flatfishes, as well as squid, jellyfish , shrimps, crabs, octopus , and sea cucumbers. It is believed that spiny dogfish rarely feed during the winter months when they stay in deeper waters based upon their very thin appearance in early spring in coastal waters .

Reproduction

Mating typically occurs in offshore waters with fertilization occurring internally. This is followed by ovoviviparous development. After 4-6 month of development, the membrane providing nourishment to the embryo breaks down . This leaves the yolk-sac to provide nourishment during the remaining 17-19 months of gestation . This species is thought to have the longest gestation period of any vertebrate (up to 24 months). The young are born head-first with cartilaginous sheaths on the spines to protect the mother from injury. Litter sizes average 6-7 but varies between 1 and 15. The newborn pups range from 8-13 inches (20-33 cm) in length.

Behavior

Spiny dogfish swim in large schools with individuals of the same size class staying together as they grow. Schools can consist of either mature large females, medium size mature males or immature females, or of small immature fishes of both sexes. Immature dogfish tend to school offshore while schools of mature females are often observed inshore .

Dogfish are a highly migratory species. Found primarily north of Cape Cod in the summer, they move south to Long Island in the fall and as far south as North Carolina in the winter. During the spring , they begin their migration north, reaching Georges Bank in March and April. They are absent along the coast of Canada and Maine until late June and July.

Predators:

Spiny dogfish are been documented in the stomachs of cod , red hake, and goosefish, as well as other spiny dogfish. Larger species of sharks as well as seals and killer whales , although in fewer numbers, also feed on the spiny dogfish.

Taxonomy

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Ambiguous Synonyms

  1. Acanthias antiguorum (Leach, 1818)
  2. Squalus achantias Latreille, 1804
  3. Squalus antiquorum Leach, 1818
  4. Squalus canis Forster, 1777
  5. Squalus mitsukurii Jordan & Snyder, 1903
  6. Squalus spinax (non Linnaeus, 1758)

Unambiguous Synonyms

  1. Acanthias americanus Storer, 1846
  2. Acanthias commun Navarrete, 1898
  3. Acanthias lebruni Vaillant, 1888
  4. Acanthias linnei Malm, 1877
  5. Acanthias sucklii (Girard, 1855)
  6. Acanthias vulgaris Risso, 1827
  7. Spinax mediterraneus Gistel, 1848
  8. Spinax suckleyi Girard, 1855
  9. Squalus acanthias subsp. acanthias Linnaeus, 1758
  10. Squalus acanthias subsp. africana Myagkov & Kondyurin, 1986
  11. Squalus barbouri Howell Rivero, 1936
  12. Squalus fernandinus Molina, 1782
  13. Squalus kirki Phillipps, 1931
  14. Squalus suckleyi (Girard, 1855)
  15. Squalus sucklii (Girard, 1855)
  16. Squalus wakiyae Tanaka, 1918
  17. Squalus whitleyi Phillipps, 1931

Misapplied Names

  1. Squalus mitsukurii Jordan & Snyder, 1903
  2. Squalus spinax (non Linnaeus, 1758)

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name . Latest taxonomic scrutiny: Group expert : Compagno L.J.V., Data last modified by FishBase 20-Sep-2000

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Squalus

There are approximately 69 species in this genus:

S. acanthias (Blue Dog) · S. acanthias acanthias · S. acanthias africana · S. acanthicus · S. acanthius · S. acanthias · S. acutirostris · Prionace glauca · S. albifrons · S. alsaticus · S. acanthias · S. blainville (Bigeye Dogfish) · S. megalops · Prionace glauca · S. carcharias minor · Sphyrna zygaena · S. cf · Carcharhinus melanopterus · S. crassispinus · S. cubensis (Cuban Dogfish) · Galeus melastomus · Chiloscyllium indicum · S. dobula · Mustelus asterias · S. japonicus · S. fernandius · Lamna nasus (Spiny Dogfishes) · S. grahami · S. mitsukurii · S. huntensis · Centrophorus uyato · S. japonicus (Japanese Spurdog) · S. jenseni · S. kirkii · Orectolobus maculatus · S. lalannei · S. lebruni · S. lepusculus · Carcharias taurus · Aulohalaelurus labiosus · Carcharhinus longimanus · S. megalops (Bluntnose Spiny Dogfish) · S. melanurus (Blacktail Spurdog) · S. meunier · S. meunieri · S. minor · S. mitsukarii · S. mitsukrii · S. mitsukurii (Dogfish) · S. mitsukurri · S. mitsukurii · S. nasutus · S. notocaudatus · S. occidentalis · Stegostoma fasciatum · S. mitsukurii · S. megalops · S. rancureli (Cyrano Spurdog) · Cetorhinus maximus · Galeorhinus galeus · Prionace glauca · Chiloscyllium punctatum · S. serriculus · S. acanthias (Spiny Dogfishes) · S. spp · S. suckli · Stegostoma fasciatum · Carcharhinus melanopterus · Stegostoma fasciatum

Bibliography

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