Shortnose spurdog sharks are a slender dogfish without the spots. They have a broad head and a short broad snout, and small medial barbel on anterior nasal flaps. Pectoral fin posterior margin deeply concave. Caudal fin relatively short, first dorsal fin moderately high, short slender spine, origins over pectoral inner margins.

SIZE

Males mature at (16.2 to 20 inches), females mature at (14.5 to 24.4 inches) can reach a maximum length of 30.3 inches. Pups are born at a length of ( 9 to 9.8 inches ).

TEETH

They have blade-like teeth in both jaws.

COLOR

Shortnose spurdog sharks are a gray-brown to a dark brown on top with the ventral surface being paler than the rest of the body.

FEEDING HABITS

Feeds mainly on a variety of bony fishes, including ( snake eels, scorpion fishes, conger eels ), invertebrates, sometimes batoids.

BEHAVIOUR

This species is social, often in large dense schools, partly sexually segregated.

HABITAT

Shortnose spurdogs are found in East Atlantic, Indo-west Pacific. They inhabit outer continental shelves and upper slopes, on or near the seabed at depths of surface to 2,401 feet. Nursery grounds on outer continental shelves.

REPRODUCTION

This species is ovoviviparous ( aplacental viviparous) , giving birth to 1 to 6 pups per litter ( generally 2 or 3 ) after a two year gestation.

SHARK ATTACKS

No data found.

POPULATION REPORT

Common to abundant, important in some fisheries. Taxonomy uncertain, may be a species complex.