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Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) > Squaliformes (Sleeper and dogfish sharks) > Squalidae (Dogfish sharks)
Etymology: Squalus: Genus name from Latin 'squalus' meaning shark (Ref. 6885, 27436).

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Marine; demersal; depth range 60 - 400 m (Ref. 247). Subtropical; 36°N - 56°S, 97°W - 45°W (Ref. 54893)

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Western Atlantic: North Carolina to Florida (USA), Gulf of Mexico, Cuba, Hispaniola; southern Brazil and Argentina.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - 50 cm
Max length : 110 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 247); common length : 75.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 247)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

A slim, gray shark with tips of dorsal fins black and edges of pectoral, pelvic and caudal fins white; two dorsal fins each with strong, ungrooved spine at front edge (Ref. 26938).

Inhabits continental shelves and uppermost slopes. Found in 60 to 380 m deep (Ref. 26938). Found on or near the bottom in large, dense schools. Probably feeds on bottom fishes and invertebrates. Ovoviviparous, with about 10 young per litter. A huge parasite (isopod) lives in its buccal cavity. Seldom used for food, but taken in commercial catches for its liver which yields oil and vitamins. Maximum depth reported taken from Ref. 55584.

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae

Ovoviviparous, with about 10 young per litter (Ref. 247). Distinct pairing with embrace (Ref. 205).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Compagno, Leonard J.V. | Collaborators

Compagno, L.J.V., 1984. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 1 - Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(4/1):1-249. Rome, FAO. (Ref. 247)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 21 June 2019

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial

FAO - Fisheries: species profile; Publication: search | FishSource |

More information

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Anatomy
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Physiology
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Summary page | Point data | Common names | Photos

Internet sources

Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 123201): 13.6 - 23.7, mean 18.7 °C (based on 111 cells).

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD₅₀ = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00339 (0.00162 - 0.00707), b=3.10 (2.93 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref. 93245).

Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 4.2 ±0.6 se; based on diet studies.

Resilience (Ref. 120179): Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=10).

Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): High to very high vulnerability (66 of 100).

Price category (Ref. 80766): Medium.

Squalus cubensis Howell Rivero, 1936