Spiny dogfish

Language English

Onglets

Description

Distinguishing features

The spiny dogfish has five gill slits on either side of its body, just in front of the pectoral fin. This shark has two dorsal fins and, in front of each of these, a sharp spine. It does not have an anal fin. Its slate grey back and flanks are marked with faint white spots.

Reproduction

The female reaches sexual maturity at 12 years, on average, and the male at 6 years. Fertilization occurs internally. This fish is ovoviviparous, meaning that the eggs develop within the female's uterus. The number of eggs ranges from 2 to 15. The gestation period is 22-24 months, the longest for any vertebrate.

Diet

Spiny dogfish mainly eat prey that are small enough to be swallowed whole, primarily fish such as herring and capelin, but also squid, shrimp, polychaete worms and sea anemones.

Predators

Their main enemies are seals and larger sharks.

Habitat

These bottom-dwelling sharks live in relatively cold water, at temperatures ranging from 6 to 15°C. They are found at depths of up to 360 m, as well as in shallow water.

Ecology, behaviour

They often live in schools, particularly during the breeding and migration season. Both these activities take place in winter, when spiny dogfish leave the St. Lawrence Estuary and migrate to the coast off North Carolina.

French name

Aiguillat commun

Scientific name

Squalus acanthias

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish)

Order

Squaliformes

Family

Squalidae

Size

Maximum length of female: 120 cm; maximum length of male: 90 cm

Weight

Maximum weight of female: 7 kg

Life span

Female: 40 years; male: 35 years

Status

Vulnerable (IUCN - 2006); special concern (Cosewic - April 2010).

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