The Spurdog shark is a more slender shark and it actually gets its name from the spines at the front of its dorsal fin, it uses these spines to defend itself from bigger predators curling in a bow and striking the predator. Spurdog sharks are also commonly known as spiny dogfish, this species of shark migrates to the deeper water in colder seasons but likes being by coastal waters during summer when the bigger predators move into offshore Cornish waters. Spurdog sharks tend to feed on bony fish and sometimes smaller sharks. You can identify Spurdog sharks by their pointed snout, large eyes, and spines in front of their dorsal fin accompanied by their grey/brown body colour.
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Female spurdog sharks have one of the longest pregnancies of any vertebrate, lasting between 18-22 months.
Book a boat trip and you might get lucky to see one of these fantastic creatures in our Cornish waters. Sharks are not a common sighting on our trips as they do not need to surface to breathe like whales and dolphins do, and tend to stick to deeper waters, but every trip is different and you never know what you might see. Experience our boat trips and keep your eyes open and you might just get lucky.
Spurdog sharks have a sleek and slender body that is grey to brown in colour, with white underbellies. They have a pointed snout, two dorsal fins with spines, and small eyes.
They typically grow to a maximum length of about 1 metre, however, there are some reports of individuals reaching up to 1.5 metres in length.
Found in the temperate and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans; they are widely distributed and can be found from the surface to depths of about 1,000 metres. They are common in areas such as the coast of North America, the North Sea, and the Mediterranean.
They are carnivorous predators that feed on a variety of prey, including small fish, squid, and crustaceans.
There is uncertainty on how long this species can live, but some individuals are known to have lived up to 75 years old.
They reproduce via aplacental viviparity, meaning that the young develop inside the female’s body and are sustained by a yolk sac rather than a placenta. Female spurdog sharks mature sexually at a relatively late age, between 7 and 12 years, and give birth to litters of 2 to 15 pups after a gestation period of about 18 to 24 months.
Spurdog Sharks are considered to be a species of concern by many conservation organisations and are listed as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN due to their slow growth rate, low reproductive rate, and heavy fishing pressure. Spurdog sharks are caught for their meat, fins, and oil, and their populations have declined in many areas as a result.
Padstow Sealife Safaris give you the chance to get up close and personal with these fascinating creatures. Depending on the time of year that you choose to visit, you’ll have the chance to see a number of different species.
