-+Spiny+Dogfish

The Spiny dog fish, or the //Squalus acanthias//, is a small schooling shark that forms groups of hundreds or thousands of individuals of the same sex and size. They are usually about two to three feet long, but have been known to grow to about four feet, weighing up to 20 lbs. The spiny dogfish has a life span of 25 to 30 years. Studies have shown that the spiny dogfish can migrate very far. A few dogfish tagged in Newfoundland were found in Iceland years later. A few dogfish have been recorded to travel across the Atlantic ocean. Most however migrate seasonally on the N.E. coast of North America.

The Spiny Dogfish is an "opportunistic feeder". That means they eat whatever prey they can sink their teeth into. Spiny Dogfish eat just about anything.

The Spiny Dogfish is ovoviviparous, which means the female keeps eggs in their body until they hatch. They have the longest pregnancy period of almost all sharks. It is 22 months long. The usual birth for dogfish is the winter time. Females can usually have about two to 16 "pups".

The spiny dogfish is found in cold and warm temperate oceans at temperatures between 6 and 15 degrees Celsius. The spiny dogfish can be found in a wide range of salinities and estuaries as well. You can find the spiny dogfish generally anywhere. Some distinguishing facts about this shark are they have no anal fin. They have spines in front of each dorsal fin, and they also have oblique teeth in both jaws.

Photo taken by Aundrea

By: Jon

[]