The Cuban dogfish shark is a dogfish living in the Atlantic Ocean.
Cuban Dogfish Shark Scientific Classification |
|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Chondrichthyes |
| Order | Squaliformes |
| Family | Squalidae |
| Genus | Squalus |
| Scientific Name | S. cubensis |
Description
This shark is around 29.5 inches long, reaching a maximum length of 43.3 inches. They have large eyes, a slender body, and about 26 teeth in each jaw. Both dorsal fins have spines of similar length on their grooves, with the first dorsal fin being larger than the second. The pectoral fins are curved inwards with free rear tips.
They are olive-grey or plain grey when looked at from above, while paler from below. The dorsal fin has black tips, and the pectoral and pelvic fins have white tips.
Where do they live
Map Of The Cuban Dogfish Shark’s Habitat
Cuban dogfish live in the western Atlantic, from North Carolina in the United States to Argentina, encompassing Cuba, the Gulf of Mexico, Hispaniola, and southern Brazil.
They are most commonly spotted at depths from 196 ft to 1246.72 ft, where continental shelves and uppermost slopes are located.
Behavior
Feeding
This shark feeds on benthic invertebrates like shrimp and squids, as well as small fish.
Social
These sharks form large schools to travel in.
Reproductive
Female Cuban dogfish give live birth to a litter consisting of 10 pups on average, though 18-23 pups are not uncommon. They become sexually mature when about 19.4 inches long.
Interactions with humans
While humans don’t consume this shark, they are caught for the vitamins and oils provided by its liver. Despite this, the shark’s population isn’t at risk, with the IUCN classifying it as “Least Concern” or “LC”.
