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Dogfish sharks are the second largest of shark orders with 128 species. Dogfish are highly diverse. They include:
Dwarf Lanternshark (Etmopterus perryi)
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Cookie-cutter Shark (Isistius brasiliensis)
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| Smallest of all known sharks at 6 inches |
Seduces its prey bioluminescence;
then scoops out a chunk of its flesh |
Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus)
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Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias)
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| Largest dogshark at 21 feet. |
Relatively abundant, but vulnerable to extinction because it of over-exploitation, low protection, and low reproductive capability. |
Caribbean Roughshark (Oxynotus caribbaeus
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Click below to view gallery:
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Squalus acanthias) off the Washington state coast. Spiny Dogfish are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Greg Amptman
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Spiny Dogfish Shark
Spiny Dogfish Shark
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Squalus acanthias) off the Washington state coast. Spiny Dogfish are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Greg Amptman
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Spiny Dogfish Shark
Spiny Dogfish Shark
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Squalus acanthias) off the Washington state coast. Spiny Dogfish are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Greg Amptman
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Spiny Dogfish Shark
Spiny Dogfish Shark
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Squalus acanthias), Quadra Island, off Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada ( Discovery Passage, North Pacific Ocean ). Spiny Dogfish are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Photo by: Doug Perrine, SeaPics.com
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Spiny dogfish
Spiny dogfish
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Squalus megalops), Victoria, Australia. Photo by: Doug Perrine, SeaPics.com
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Shortnose spurdog
Shortnose spurdog
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Squalus megalops), Victoria, Australia. Photo by: Doug Perrine, SeaPics.com
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Shortnose spurdog
Shortnose spurdog
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Somniosus microcephalus) & divers, St . Lawrence River estuary, Canada (these sharks were wild & unrestrained ; they were not hooked and tail-roped as in most or all photos from the Arctic). Greenland sleeper sharks are on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.Photo by: Doug Perrine, SeaPics.com
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Greenland sleeper shark
Greenland sleeper shark
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| Unusual-looking, highly pronounced dorsal fins, plush-appearing body
llustrations by R. Aidan Martin
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Characteristics of the Dogfish Sharks
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# of Species
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119
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Body shape
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Rounded; varied according to species
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Mouth position
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Underneath
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Anal fin
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No
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Dorsal Fin
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2
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Fin spines
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Yes
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# of Gill slits
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5
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Reproduction
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Ovoviviparous (eggs develop in the mother’s body and are born alive).
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Unique qualities
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Many bioluminescent
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Habitat
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Marine; most species bottom oriented. Widely diversified and wide-ranging, dogfish sharks are in coastal and oceanic waters, from cool temperate to deep tropical waters
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Food
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Diverse as are the species. Range from boney fishes, crustacea, to marine mammals
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Comparison of the Families of Dogfish Sharks
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Family
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Dogfish
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Gulper
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Lantern
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Angular
Roughshark
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Sleeper
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Kitefin
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Squalidae
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Centrophoridae
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Etmopteridae
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Oxynotidae
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Somniosidae
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Dalatiidae
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# of species
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20
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15
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51
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5
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18
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10
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Dorsal fin
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smooth spine
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grooved spine
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very high dorsal
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deeply imbedded spine
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small dorsals, grooved spines
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small dorsals, no spine
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Unusual qualities
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upper & lower teeth equal size
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lower teeth noticably larger than upper
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luminous patterns
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body high, triangular; rough, large dentricles
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mall pectoral, pelvic, and dorsal fins
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large eyes
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Includes
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Spiny dogfish, Mandarin dogfish
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Gulper, Birdbeak dogfish
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Lantern sharks
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Roughsharks
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Portuguese, Sleeper shark
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Kitefin, Cookie-cutter, Pygmy
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