Spurdog ©Peter Verhoog
Spurdog shark
Scientific name: Squalus acanthias
This slender shark gets its name from the spines in front of its dorsal fin. It can use these spines to defend itself by curling in a bow and striking at a predator.
Top facts
Stats
Length: Up to 1.6 mWeight: Up to 9.1 kg
Average Lifespan: Can live for up to 75 years
Conservation status
The spurdog is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List and is a Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework.
When to see
Present all year roundAbout
Also known as the spiny dogfish, the spurdog is a predator that feeds on bony fish, and sometimes even smaller sharks! It is a migratory species that spends the winter months in deep water, and the summer months in warm coastal waters.They often travel in groups which makes them an easier target for fisheries. It's difficult for these sharks to recover from overfishing, because they are very slow to reproduce, typically having 1 litter of pups every 2 years.