Family: Squalidae, Dogfish Sharks view all from this family

Description To 5' (1.5 m). Elongate, slender; gray or brown above, dirty white below; young have light spots on back. Snout long, pointed. Spine in front of each dorsal fin; origin of first dorsal fin slightly posterior to rear of pectorals; origin of second dorsal fin posterior to rear of pelvics. Lacks anal fin; upper lobe of caudal fin larger than lower, tip rounded.

Related Species Pacific Sleeper Shark (Somniosus pacificus) lacks spine in front of dorsal fins; first dorsal fin closer to insertion of pelvic fins; occurs in deep water from Bering Sea to Baja California.

Similar Species Horn Shark (Heterodontus francisci) with brown-gray body and numerous dark spots; anal fin present.

Habitat In temperate waters over soft bottoms, off coast to 200 fathoms.

Range On Atlantic Coast from Newfoundland to North Carolina; a few stray to Cuba; on Pacific Coast from Bering Sea to central Baja California.

Discussion The fully developed young are born in broods of 2 to 20 and average 8" to 12" (20 to 30 cm) long at birth. Tagging studies off California suggest that Spiny Dogfishes are migratory. Though they are an important food fish in Europe, these abundant sharks are considered pests in North America.