Name: Smallspotted catshark, smallspotted dogfish, dogfish
Scientific Name: Scyliorhinus canicula (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Scyliorhinidae
Group: Sharks, rays and chimaeras
Class: Fish
Size: 51-100 cm.
The smallspotted dogfish is a coastal shark that we can find at depths up to 400 m. During the day, it forms large groups, which rest on sandy bottoms and only disperse at night to feed. The males and females live separately, only coming together during spring to mate. Later, the females spawn their eggs in shallow and sheltered waters. Each egg is protected by a strong capsule, which has adhesive filaments that anchor it to algae, gorgonians and other objects. Nine months later, hatching takes place and the juveniles emerge fully formed, measuring only 10 cm.
Photo by:
Hans Hillewaert
North Atlantic
