Spurdog Sharks

Spurdog sharks have a sleek and slender body that is grey to brown in colour, with white underbellies. They have a pointed snout, two dorsal fins with spines, and small eyes.

They typically grow to a maximum length of about 1 metre, however, there are some reports of individuals reaching up to 1.5 metres in length.

Found in the temperate and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans; they are widely distributed and can be found from the surface to depths of about 1,000 metres. They are common in areas such as the coast of North America, the North Sea, and the Mediterranean.

They are carnivorous predators that feed on a variety of prey, including small fish, squid, and crustaceans.

There is uncertainty on how long this species can live, but some individuals are known to have lived up to 75 years old.

They reproduce via aplacental viviparity, meaning that the young develop inside the female’s body and are sustained by a yolk sac rather than a placenta. Female spurdog sharks mature sexually at a relatively late age, between 7 and 12 years, and give birth to litters of 2 to 15 pups after a gestation period of about 18 to 24 months.

Spurdog Sharks are considered to be a species of concern by many conservation organisations and are listed as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN due to their slow growth rate, low reproductive rate, and heavy fishing pressure. Spurdog sharks are caught for their meat, fins, and oil, and their populations have declined in many areas as a result.