(Squalidae)
Dogfish Sharks
Катранові
Squalidae, more commonly known as dogfish, dog sharks, or spiny dogfish, are one of several families of sharks categorized under Squaliformes. Having earned their name after a group of fishermen reportedly observed the species chasing down smaller fish in dog-like packs, dogfish have slender, streamlined bodies, usually more compact in comparison to other species, and a pointed snout. Dogfish likewise have two dorsal fins, each with smooth spines, but no anal fin, and their skin is generally rough to the touch. As the species reaches adulthood, males usually measure a maximum of 100 cm, while females typically measure 125 cm long. The species therefore exhibits female-dominant sexual dimorphism.
Dogfish sharks have slate-grey or grey-brown skin with white dots that become paler (almost white) around the belly region. These sharks are characterized by teeth in upper and lower jaws similar in size; a caudal peduncle with lateral keels; the upper precaudal pit is usually present; and the caudal fin is without a subterminal notch.
They are carnivorous, principally preying upon organisms smaller than themselves. Some of their prey include herring, mackerel, and capelin. In special cases, they may consume jellyfish and squid. Even at a young age, spiny dogfish pups may hunt fish two or three times their size. Unlike virtually all other shark species, dogfish sharks possess venom which coats their dorsal spines; this venom is mildly toxic to humans and would be harmful if the shark were to be mishandled. The livers and stomachs of the Squalidae contain the compound squalamine, which possesses the property of reducing small blood vessel growth in humans. Dogfish sharks use their strong jaw and sharp teeth to consume their prey.
The spiny dogfish has broken several records related to migration and gestation. This shark tends to be a highly migratory species: one shark was recorded as travelling 8,000 km after being tagged in Washington state, United States, and found again later in Japan. In addition to its long-distance migration, the spiny shark holds the record for the longest gestation period of any vertebrate, at 22–24 months. Females produce eggs and give birth to live young that measure 20–33 cm. The mating cycle of Squalidae consists of multiple paternity, where multiple males can fertilize a single litter. This allows for increased genetic variation, which is essential for the conservation of the species, given their susceptibility to fishing.
(Cirrhigaleus asper)
Roughskin Spurdog
Вусата акула грубошкіра
It has a fragmented distribution throughout the World Ocean, occurring in the Gulf of Mexico, the south-eastern United States, off Brazil, the Comoros Islands, southern Africa, and the Hawaiian Islands, at depths of 200–600 m.
(Cirrhigaleus barbifer)
Mandarin Dogfish
Вусата акула-мандарин
It is found off southern Japan, Taiwan, and Indonesia (Bali and Lombok) at depths of 140–650 m.
(Cirrhigaleus australis)
Southern Mandarin Dogfish
Вусата акула південна
It is found in the temperate waters in south-eastern Australia and from the Bay of Plenty region in New Zealand, at depths of 146–640 m.
(Squalus acanthias)
Spiny Dogfish
Катран короткоперий
It inhabits shallow waters and further offshore in most parts of the world, especially in temperate waters. It occurs at depths of 50–149 m, but have been found deeper than 700 m.
(Squalus suckleyi)
North Pacific Spiny Dogfish
Катран плямистий
It is found in the North Pacific, from Korea and Japan northward to Russia (Kamchatka, the Sea of Okhotsk, and Sakhalin), the Bering Sea and the Aleutian Islands. Eastward, its range extends from the Gulf of Alaska and British Columbia to Washington and southward to southern Baja California. It occurs at depths of 15–1,244 m.
(Squalus acutipinnis)
Bluntnose Spiny Dogfish
Катран тупорилий
Its primary populations occur off southern Africa and Australia. It is possible that it may also live in the eastern Atlantic, southern Indian Ocean and western North Pacific but there has been no data to support these populations so far. It has recently been confirmed in the Mediterranean Sea. It occurs from inshore waters to depths of 450 m.
(Squalus albicaudus)
Brazilian Whitetail Dogfish
Катран бразильський білохвостий
It is found in the south-western Atlantic off Brazil, at depths of 195–421 m.
(Squalus albifrons)
Eastern Highfin Spurdog
Катран східний високоплавцевий
It is found on the continental shelf off Queensland, Australia, at depths of 220–510 m.
(Squalus altipinnis)
Western Highfin Spurdog
Катран високошипий
It is found on the continental shelf off Western Australia, at depths of 220–510 m.
(Squalus bahiensis)
Northeastern Brazilian Dogfish
Катран бразильський північно-східний
It is found in the south-western Atlantic off the coast of Brazil.
(Squalus bassi)
Long-snouted African Spurdog
Катран африканський довгорилий
It is found in the southeastern Atlantic and western Indian Oceans, extending southward along the coast of the Western Cape, South Africa, to Mozambique, at depths of 159–591 m.
(Squalus blainville)
Blainville's Dogfish
Катран малий
It is found over continental shelves in all oceans, at depths of 15–800 m.
(Squalus boretzi)
Boretz's Dogfish
Катран Бореця
It is found in the north-western Pacific, along the Emperor Seamount Chain, at depths of 475–525 m.
(Squalus brevirostris)
Shortnose Spurdog
Катран короткорилий
It is found from southern Japan to the South China Sea.
(Squalus bucephalus)
Bighead Spurdog
Катран великоголовий
It has only been recorded from the waters south of New Caledonia, and from seamounts on the Norfolk Ridge in the northern Tasman Sea, at depths of 448–800 m.
(Squalus chloroculus)
Greeneye Spurdog
Катран зеленоокий
It lives in waters off southern and eastern Australia from Eucla in Western Australia to Jervis Bay in New South Wales, on the upper and middle continental slope at depths of 216–1,360 m.
(Squalus clarkae)
Genie's Dogfish
Катран Джині
It is found in the Gulf of Mexico (western Atlantic), at depths of 242–613 m.
(Squalus crassispinus)
Fatspine Spurdog
Катран-товстошип
It is found on the continental shelf off the northern coast of Western Australia, at depths of 180–200 m.
(Squalus cubensis)
Cuban Dogfish
Катран кубинський
It can range from the subtropical Atlantic Ocean to the greater Caribbean and Mexican gulf. Within this range it sitings are reported from North Carolina to Florida. Even further south, sitings are reported in Cuba, Hispaniola, southern Brazil and Argentina historically. It inhabits dark, deep, temperate waters near the upper continental shelf and slopes, at depths of 80–380 m.
(Squalus edmundsi)
Western Longnose Spurdog
Катран Едмунда
It is found off western Australia and Indonesia, at depths of 204–850 m.
(Squalus formosus)
Taiwan Spurdog
Катран тайванський
It is found off Taiwan and has also been reported near Kyushu Island, Japan.
(Squalus grahami)
Eastern Longnose Spurdog
Катран Грехама
It is found off northern Queensland, at depths of 220–500 m.
(Squalus griffini)
Northern Spiny Dogfish
Катран північний
It is found off New Zealand’s North Island, at depths of 37–950 m.
(Squalus hawaiiensis)
Hawaiian Spurdog
Гавайський катран
It is found in waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands, from the surface to 950 m.
(Squalus hemipinnis)
Indonesian Shortsnout Spurdog
Катран індонезійський коротконосий
It is found in the eastern Indian Ocean off Indonesia, at depths of 1–100 m.
(Squalus japonicus)
Japanese Spurdog
Катран японський
It is found in the western Pacific Ocean – south-eastern Japan and the East China Sea, including the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, and the Arafura Sea. It occurs in temperate and tropical waters along the continental shelf and slopes, at depths of 52–400 m.
(Squalus megalops)
Spikey Dogfish
Катран коротконосий
It is found off southern Australia and along the African coast from South Africa to Cameroon, and from Western Sahara to Morocco, at depths of 30–750 m. It also occurs off Portugal and Spain (along the Mediterranean coast).
(Squalus lobularis)
Atlantic Lobefin Dogfish
Катран атлантичний лопатеперий
It is found in the southwestern Atlantic, ranging from southern Brazil through Uruguay to Patagonia, Argentina.
(Squalus melanurus)
Blacktailed Spurdog
Катран чорнохвостий
It is found around New Caledonia in the central Pacific Ocean, at depths of 34–480 m.
(Squalus mitsukurii)
Shortspine Spurdog
Катран Міцукурі
It is found in temperate and subtropical seas off the coasts of Africa, China, Indochina, Japan, Taiwan, North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and New Caledonia, at depths of 29–600 m.
(Squalus montalbani)
Philippine Spurdog
Катран філіппінський
It is found in Pacific and Eastern Indian Ocean waters of south-eastern Asia, the Philippines, and Australia, at depths of 154–1,370 m.
(Squalus nasutus)
Western Longnose Spurdog
Катран західний носатий
It is found on the continental shelf off the northwest and southwest coasts of Western Australia, at depths of 300–850 m.
(Squalus notocaudatus)
Bartail Spurdog
Катран хвостатий
It is found on the continental shelf off Queensland, Australia, at depths of 220–450 m.
(Squalus quasimodo)
Humpback Western Dogfish
Катран горбатий західний
It is found off the coast of southern Brazil.
(Squalus raoulensis)
Kermadec Spurdog
Катран кермадекський
It is found in the southwestern Pacific, where it is known only from the upper insular slope west of Napier Island and north of Raoul Island on the Kermadec Ridge, at depths of 250–500 m.
(Squalus lalannei)
Seychelles Spurdog
Катран сейшельський
It is found off the Seychelles at depths of up to 1,000 m.
The genus (Squalus) also includes: Malagasy Skinny Spurdog (Squalus mahia), Smith’s Dogfish (Squalus margaretsmithae), West African Spiny Dogfish (Squalus probatovi), Nipponic Dogfish (Squalus shiraii).
