Sharks & Rays
Spiny Dogfish
Squalus acanthius and Squalus suckleyi
Also known as
Spiky dog, spiked dogfish, spur dogfish, rock salmon
Distribution
Atlantic, Pacific and eastern Indian Oceans, Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea
Ecosystem/Habitat
Coastal to offshore waters
Feeding Habits
Foraging predator
Conservation Status
Special Concern
Taxonomy
Order Squaliformes (dogfish & relatives); Family Squalidae (dogfish sharks)
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Facebook Twitter Pinterest Google+The spiny dogfish may go by many names, including piked dogfish, rock salmon and spiky dog, but only one truly represents this shark’s unique defense strategy. To defend itself, the spiny dogfish may inject venom into predators from the two spines at the base of each dorsal fin. Dogfish are named because fishers have observed these species chasing down smaller fish in dog-like packs. Spiny dogfish were considered one of the most abundant shark species in the ocean and, while still relatively abundant, many populations have declined. Although they are forage feeding sharks, they are relatively small and are harmless to humans. Until recently, spiny dogfish from both Canada’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts were considered the same species, however new research has classified the North Pacific spiny dogfish (Squalus suckleyi) as a separate species.
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