Overview

Dogfish sharks belong to the Squalidae family. They have a slender, elongated body with a pointed snout and two dorsal fins. Their skin is rough and covered in tiny denticles. Dogfish sharks are distinguished from other similar species by their two dorsal fins, which are both of similar size and shape, and their lack of an anal fin. They also have a distinctive "dog-like" face with a prominent snout and small eyes.

Commonly found in:

1. Canada
2. United States
3. Mexico
4. Cuba
5. Bahamas
6. Dominican Republic
7. Puerto Rico
8. Brazil
9. Argentina
10. South Africa
11. Australia
12. New Zealand
13. Japan
14. South Korea
15. China

Size and Weight

• Size: Males average between 2-3 feet when mature; females average between 3-4 feet when mature
• Weight: Males typically weigh 6-8 pounds; females typically weigh 8-12 pounds
• Swimming speed: Both sexes swim at speeds of 1-2 mph

Interaction with Humans

• Interaction with Humans: Generally not aggressive, rarely interact with humans
• Avoidance: Stay out of deep waters at night
• Activity: Nocturnal, most active at night

Lifespan and Diet

• Lifespan: Males live 20-30 years; females live 30-40 years
• Diet: Small fish, squid, and crustaceans; hunt by ambushing prey near the ocean floor

Migratory Patterns

Dogfish sharks, particularly spiny dogfish, exhibit seasonal migratory patterns. They typically move northward and into shallower waters during spring and summer, then southward and into deeper waters during fall and winter. Along the Atlantic coast of North America, they migrate from waters off New England and Atlantic Canada in the summer to areas off North Carolina and further south in the winter. In the eastern Pacific, they move from Alaska and British Columbia in the summer to waters off California in the winter.