Overview
Dogfish sharks have a slender, elongated body with a pointed snout and two dorsal fins that are similar in size. Their coloration is typically gray or brown, and they have a distinctive "dog-like" appearance due to their large, prominent eyes and their tendency to swim with their head held high. Dogfish sharks are distinguished from other similar species, such as the spiny dogfish, by the absence of a spine in front of their first dorsal fin.
Commonly found in:
- Australia
- South Africa
- United States
- Brazil
- New Zealand
- Japan
- Mexico
- Portugal
- Spain
- Italy
- France
- England
- Ireland
- Canada
- Chile
Over the past 104 years, there have been 8 recorded attacks by dog sharks. Of these attacks, they have occurred at sea and at the following beaches:
Size and Weight
- Size: Males average 2-3 feet when mature; females average 2.5-3.5 feet when mature
- Weight: Males typically weigh 15-25 pounds; females typically weigh 20-30 pounds
- Swimming speed: Both sexes swim at 1-2 mph
Interaction with Humans
- Interaction with Humans: Generally not aggressive, rarely encounter humans
- Avoidance: Stay out of shallow coastal waters at night
- Activity: Nocturnal, most active at night
Lifespan and Diet
- Lifespan: Males live 15-20 years; females live 18-25 years
- Diet: Small fish, squid, and crustaceans; hunts near the ocean floor
Migratory Patterns
Dog sharks, also known as spiny dogfish, exhibit seasonal migratory patterns. They typically move northward and into shallower waters during the summer months, and southward and into deeper waters during the winter. Along the Atlantic coast of North America, they migrate from the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank to North Carolina and sometimes as far south as Florida. In the eastern Pacific, they migrate from Alaska to California. These migrations are primarily driven by water temperature changes and the availability of prey.