Longnose spurdog
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 Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
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| Squalus blainville (Risso, 1827) |
The longnose spurdog, Squalus blainville, is a dogfish shark of the genus Squalus, found over continental shelves in all oceans, at depths of between 15 and 800 metres. They reach one metre in length.
The longnose spurdog has two dorsal fins each of which has one anterior spine, but no anal fin. The eyes are distinctively large and green. The body is uniformly grey above. Males are identified by their claspers (modified pelvic fins used as intromittent organs), while females have none.
They feed on bony fishes, like porgies, mackerel and percichthyids, as well as crabs, lobsters, and octopuses. Their reproduction is ovoviviparous, with three to four young per litter.
The longnose spurdog is a foodfish, being utilized fresh, dried and salted, and smoked for human consumption.
[edit] References
- "Squalus blainville". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. March 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8
