Let’s talk about the Dogfish Shark…
It’s an underwater dog…no it isn’t…
Despite the name and silly picture; (not real), this shark looks nothing like a dog, well not any regular dogs I know anyway!
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The dogfish shark is believed to be the most prolific shark is existences today, strange that, seeing as I bet very few people even know this shark exists, despite it having many different names like, piked dogfish, skittledog, codshark, spotted dogfish throndog and white spotted dogfish.
Why the name spiny dogfish shark, is anyone’s guess, other than the dorsal fin that has spines, there is nothing “doggish” about this shark. I guess their social behaviour and hunting methods could have been a contributing factor, as they hunt in packs, like dogs. This little fella’ is 
representative of many different species within this family, including the massive Greenland Shark and the cute Cookie-Cutter Shark.
“Spiny” is a little misleading, as not all of these dogfish sharks have spines in front of their dorsal fins, those that do though, are also mildly poisonous, the spines I mean. The two commonalties in this extensive family of different looking dogfish sharks are the suction holes behind the eyes and the lack of an anal fin.
As these little fella’s live in cold and deeper seas, very little is actually known about them, and what is known, is mainly about the real spiny dogfish, and just about all that information, is in reference to fishing.
They are a small shark between 900cm and 1.2 meters when fully grown, dark grey with the occasional white spot, their underside is off white in colour. It has two dorsal fins, and most have a slightly poisonous spine in the front of them. It has a short nose and big eyes for such a little guy, and as we have already mentioned, no anal fin. They are not considered dangerous, despite the mildly poisonous spine and two rows of sharp teeth. As with all sharks, they are curious, not blood thirsty!
Their preferred meal of choice includes fish, squid and octopus. They even portray cannibalistic tendencies and will eat smaller sharks.
They give birth to live litters of between 2 and 11 babies of 20cm to 30cm each, after a very long gestation period of up to 24 months! The guys reach maturity around 11 years and the females at between 18 and 20 years, and boast a lifespan of between 25 and 100 years…told you not much is known about these little ones!
Sadly, their greatest threat is humans, as they are fished and used as food, fertilizer, pet food, hide and liver oil! When will we ever learn, we need to stop messing with the oceans ecosystem!?
Come and visit us, for a truly memorable experience and dive with the Great Whites in False Bay!
So, till we meet again, keep that toothy grin!
By Nadine Bentley!
