| Family: |
Squalidae (Dogfish sharks) |
| Max. size: |
72 cm TL (male/unsexed); 89 cm TL (female); max. reported age: 32 years |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 30 - 750 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Indian Ocean: previously considered to be an Australian endemic (Ref. 49645). Eastern Atlantic: confirmed to occur in the Mediterranean (Ref. 93472). Dogfishes presently referred to in current literature as Squalus megalops appear to belong to a complex of similar species. Specimens from the different regions still need to be compared carefully (Ref. 6871). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 2-2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. A small dogfish with a short, angular snout and a small mouth almost as wide as the snout is long; body without spots; 1st dorsal fin spine over pectoral fins (Ref. 5578). Bronze-grey above, white below; dorsal fins with black tips and white edges but markings inconspicuous in adults (Ref. 5578). |
| Biology: |
Found on the outer continental shelves and upper slopes, on or near the bottom (Ref. 31367); sublittoral below 130 m (Ref. 11230). Young mostly pelagic off the outer shelves (Ref. 5578). Aggregations by sex are regularly observed (Ref. 6871). Feeds on bony fishes, shrimps and other crustaceans, cephalopods and other elasmobranchs (Ref. 247). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205), with 2 to 4 young in a litter (Ref. 247). Gestation period is 2 years (Ref. 36731). Utilized for human consumption, the flesh most appealing dried salted or smoked (Ref. 6871). Also consumed fresh (Ref. 31367). Minimum depth reported from Ref. 6808. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 02 May 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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