lesser spotted dogfish

Scientific name Scyliorhinus canicula
Descriptor Linnaeus
Year of description 1758
IUCN category LC
Family Scyliorhinidae
Genus Scyliorhinus
Scyliorhinus canicula Scyliorhinus canicula

Introduction

Scyliorhinus canicula, commonly known as lesser spotted dogfish, is a salt water fish.

Who is it?

Morphology

  • Average size
    60 cm
  • Maximum size
    100 cm
  • Longevity
    12 year
  • Shape
    Rectangular
  • Pattern
    ponctuations
  • Average size
    60 cm
  • Maximum size
    100 cm
  • Longevity
    12 year
  • Shape
    Rectangular
  • Pattern
    ponctuations

How to recognize the lesser spotted dogfish ?

This fish has the particularity to possess several pairs of barbels, which allow him to search the bottom and to detect the food thus moved.

The lesser spotted dogfish measures between 60 and 100 cm. This fish is multicolore with a predominantly marron body. The also has noir ponctuations.

Behaviour & Life cycle

  • diet
    carnivorous and omnivorous with carnivorous tendency
  • Sociability
    solitary
  • territorial
    No
  • Way of living
    nocturnal

The lesser spotted dogfish hunts in the stalk and is one of the predators of its biotope. Opportunistic, it does not hesitate to attack any smaller animal nearby.

The lesser spotted dogfish is a fish solitary naturally found near the bottom. This species is carnivorous and omnivorous with carnivorous tendency . This fish lives mainly at night. Usually, it leaves its hiding place and starts to be active once it gets dark.

n general, outside of the hunting season, this species does not care much about other animals crossing its path.

Reproduction

  • Reproduction
    ovipare qui forme des rubans d'œufs

The lesser spotted dogfish is a fish ovipare qui forme des rubans d'œufs.

Harmless species

This species does not represent any particular threats to humans when encountered in its natural environment.

Where to find it?

Where to see this species?

What is its habitat?

Natural environment characteristics

  • Depth
    1 - 400 m

Biotope presentation

The lesser spotted dogfish is most often found at a depth between 1m and 400m. However, it is not impossible to find this species at other depths.

Species of the same biotope

To go further

To read on the web

Sources & Contributions

Participation & Validation

The Fishipedia team and specialist contributors are committed to providing high-quality content. However, although the information comes from scientific sources or testimonials from specialists, the cards may contain inaccuracies.

Adrien Falzon

Adrien Falzon

Benoit Chartrer

Benoit Chartrer

Silvia Gomez

Silvia Gomez

Translation

Translation done with the valuable contribution of our translators, who make this information available to a wider audience. We sincerely thank them for their commitment.

Bibliographic references

The reproductive biology of Scyliorhinus canicula in the Bristol Channel, U.K. - G. D. Jons - L. E. Miranda - journal of fish biology - 2005.

Egg-case diversity among dogfish, Scyliorhinus canicula (L.): a study of egg laying rate and nidamental gland secretory activity - Edvard K. Barth - journal of fish biology - 1983.

Age Determination, Growth and Reproduction in the Lesser-spotted Dogfish, Scyliorhinus canicula - P. Ivory - F. Jeal - C. P. Nolan - Journal of Northwest Atlantic Fishery Science - 2004.

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