Squalus suckleyi
| Pacific spiny dogfish | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Order: | Squaliformes |
| Family: | Squalidae |
| Genus: | Squalus |
| Species: | S. suckleyi |
| Binomial name | |
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Squalus suckleyi Girard, 1854 |
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| Locations of Squalus suckleyi in the Pacific. | |
The Pacific spiny dogfish (Squalus suckleyi) is a common species of the Squalidae (dogfish) family of sharks and are among the most abundant species of sharks in the world. This species is closely related to Squalus acanthias and for many years they were treated as a single species. Recent research, using meristic, morphological and molecular data led to the resurrection of Pacific Spiny Dogfish as a separate species. The American Fisheries Society recommends the common name "Pacific Spiny Dogfish" for Squalus suckleyi over alternatives such as "Spotted Spiny Dogfish" and "North Pacific Spiny Dogfish" and "Spiny Dogfish" for Squalus acanthias.
The maximum length of a Pacific dogfish can be 130 centimeters and they can live up to 100 years. Squalus suckleyi has a slower growth rate, larger maximum size, and later maturity compared to Squalus acanthias species. The slower growth rate and time of maturity could be related to the colder temperatures these sharks face. Pacific spiny dogfish prefer to be in temperatures ranging from 7-15 degrees Celsius. Dogfish are found all over the world, but the Pacific spiny dogfish are found in the North Pacific Ocean. These areas range from Korea, Japan, and Russia. They are also found in the gulf of Alaska down to Baja, California. They are known to be piscivores and eat other fish such as octopus, squid, and crustaceans. Squalus suckleyi have a slow reproduction rate compared to other sharks, with their gestation period being roughly around two years. This makes the Pacific dogfish more vulnerable to threats since they take longer to reproduce.
The Pacific spiny dogfish are small and skinny members of the family Squalidae. Throughout the entire Pacific Ocean, male and female dogfish measure up to be around 100 to 130 centimeters. Female Pacific dogfish reach a weight of 15 to 20 pounds by maturity, while the males tend to be much smaller in weight. The average maturation of the sharks normally take up to around 25 years. They can even live to the age of 100 years old. This makes the Northeast Pacific spiny dogfish the longest living out of all dogfish.
Its distinctive snout, large eyes, and flattened head are just a few of the physical characteristics that give the Pacific spiny dogfish its distinctive look. The dogfish has a cylindrical shaped body. This type of shark also contains a unique body coloring. The top half of the shark has a gray color with scattered white spots while the bottom half has a white/light gray color. The scales of the dogfish is composed of the same material of shark teeth called dermal denticles, making the skin very hard and durable. The skin of the sharks used to be used as sandpaper once dried to do woodwork or even be used as leather, once the denticles are removed. Lastly, the Pacific spiny dogfish has a set of teeth specialized for grinding instead of tearing by the teeth being flat with sharp edges. If any of the teeth are worn down or broken, new teeth replace them from the two rows that are not being used to prey on other animals.
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Wikipedia