| Family: |
Squalidae (Dogfish sharks) |
| Max. size: |
89.8 cm TL (male/unsexed); 94.3 cm TL (female) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; marine; depth range 29 - 600 m |
| Distribution: |
Circumglobal in temperate and subtropical waters: Widely distributed in most oceans but possibly consisting of a species complex (Ref. 6871, 31367). Western Indian Ocean: Walters Shoal (MNHN 1991-0406) (Ref. 33390); Eastern Indian Ocean: southern Australia (Ref. 6871); West Pacific: Seamounts in the North Pacific, Japan, Korea, China (and presumably Taiwan and Viet Nam); Southwest Pacific: possibly in New Zealand; Southeast Pacific: Desventuradas Is. and Juan Fernández Is. Southwest Atlantic: Uruguay to Argentina (Ref. 58839). Records of Squalus blainvillei or Squalus fernandinus from the western Indian Ocean, New Caledonia and Chile are based in part on this species. Elsewhere, dogfishes very similar to Squalus mitsukurii are not conspecific with Squalus blainvillei. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 2-2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. A large dogfish with a long, angular snout and a small mouth slightly more than half the snout length; body without spots; 1st dorsal fin spine over pectoral fins (Ref. 5578). Pearl-grey above, white below; fins with white edges, sides rarely with white spots (Ref. 5578). |
| Biology: |
Found on the continental and insular shelves and upper slopes (Ref. 247, 75154). Perhaps ranging from 4-740 m (Ref. 58302). Feeds on bony fishes including hake, snoek, conger eels and lantern fishes (Ref. 36731), cephalopods, and crustaceans (Ref. 5213). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205), with about 4 to 9 pups in a litter (Ref. 247). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 21 November 2019 (A2d) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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