Spikey Dogfish, Squalus megalops (Macleay, 1881)

Scientific name: Squalus megalops
Alternative name/s:
Common Dogfish, Dog Shark, Dogshark, Greeneye, Piked Dogfish, Piked Spurdog, Shortnose Spiny Dogfish, Shortnose Spurdog, Shortnosed Spurdog, Skittle Dog, Skittle Dogfish, Spiked Dogfish, Spikey, Spikey Dog, Spiny Dogfish, Spur Dog, Spurdog, Tasmanian Dogfish
I.45622-001 Squalus megalops Click to enlarge image
Spikey Dogfish, Squalus megalops Image: Sally Reader
© Australian Museum

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Squalus
    Species
    megalops
    Family
    Squalidae
    Order
    Squaliformes
    Class
    Chondrichthyes
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    Females grow to about 64 cm in length. Males reach 47 cm.

Introduction

The Spikey Dogfish is a small shark with slender spines in front of both dorsal fins. It is grey to greyish brown (bronzy coloured in life) with a pale caudal fin margin.

Squalus megalops I.16255-001
The holotype of Acanthias megalops (AMS I.16255-001). The species is now known as Squalus megalops (standard name: Spikey Dogfish). A. megalops was described by W. J. Macleay in 1881. Image: Sally Reader
© Australian Museum

Distribution

The species occurs in tropical and temperate waters of Australia, but is not recorded from the Northern Territory or tropical Queensland. The species may be endemic to Australia, although there are unconfirmed reports of the species in the eastern Atlantic, south-western Indian and northern Pacific oceans.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  2. Last, P.R. & J.D. Stevens. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Edition 2. CSIRO. Pp. 644, Pl. 1-91.