Dogfish sharks

Spiny dogfish

Squalus acanthias

A small schooling shark with a defensive spine in front of each dorsal fin.

Cold waterSchoolingOffshore

View recent sightings

1 observationin our coverage data · past 365 days

Typical sizeAbout 2.5–3.25 ft

MaximumAbout 4 ft

Family size comparisonAbout 4 ft maximum

Dad, Daughter, Son & Mom

Family of fourSpiny dogfish · About 4 ft

Every figure uses the same scale. The shark image is shown at the species’ published maximum length; individual animals vary.

Habitat

Cool-temperate coastal and offshore waters, often moving with water temperature and prey.

Geographic range

Cool-temperate waters of the North Atlantic; closely related Pacific populations are treated separately by many authorities.

Depth

Coastal shallows to deeper offshore water

Diet

Bony fish, squid, crustaceans, jellyfish, and other small marine animals.

How to recognize it

Slender body, pointed snout, rows of pale spots, no anal fin, and a spine before each dorsal fin.

Reproduction

Live-bearing after one of the longest known gestations among vertebrates.

Species facts

Did you know?

The name dogfish came from reports of schools chasing prey like packs of dogs.

Its dorsal spines can help discourage predators.

Awareness, not a live shark tracker.An observation is a report from a past time and place—not a prediction of where an animal is now. Species facts do not establish the size, age, behavior, or current location of the observed animal.