Smith's dogfish shark

📖 Overview

Smith's dogfish shark (Squalus margaretsmithae) is a ray-finned fish of the family Squalidae. It inhabits marine (saltwater) waters in pelagic environments. This species can reach a maximum total length of 54.3 cm. It occurs at depths between 256 and 284 metres. With a trophic level of 4, it is a mid-level predator. It is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Vertebrae: 107 - 115. This species is distinguished from its regional congeners (except S. acutipinnis) by having broad pectoral fins that transcend trunk height when adpressed on body, with length of pectoral fin anterior margin 16.5%, 15.9-17.9% TL; differs from S. chloroculus, S. edmundsi, S. lalannei, S. mitsukurii, S. montalbani, S. nasutus by having a smaller snout with prenarial length shorter than distance from nostril to upper labial furrow, and unicuspid and lanceolate dermal denticles (vs. prenarial length greater than distance from nostril to upper labial furrow, and tricuspid and rhomboid dermal denticles); differs from S. megalops, S. brevirostris by having postventral caudal margins that are not uniformly white (vs. postventral caudal margins uniformly white in megalops, brevirostris). differs from S. mahia by having dermal denticles that are wide at the crown (vs. dermal denticles slender at crown in megalops, mahia); differs from S. brevirostris, S. crassispinus by having a shorter dorsal-caudal space, 11.2%, 10.8-12.2% TL (vs. 10.1-10.6% for brevirostris and 9.9-10.0% TL for crassispinus), and from S. mahia, S. crassispinus by the prespiracular length 11.5% TL, 11.7-12.3% TL (vs. 12.4%, 12.4-13.9% TL for mahia and 12.5-12.7% TL for crassispinus); further differs from S. crassispinus by its shorter preorbital length, 6.5%, 6.4-7.0% TL (vs. 7.3-7.4% TL), its larger pectoral fins with pectoral fin inner margin length 9.7%, 9.2-10.6% TL (vs. 8.6% TL), its pectoral fin posterior margin length 11.3%, 11.8-14.5% TL (vs. 9.0-9.4% TL), greater pre-first dorsal fin length, 28.2%, 28.1-32.2% TL (vs. 26.7-27.4% TL), its wider mouth, its widhe 7.6%, 7.8-9.0% TL (vs. 7.4% TL), and shorter pelvic-caudal distance, 25.1%, 24.9-27.2% TL (vs. 27.9-28.1% TL); differs from S. acutipinnis by having a first dorsal fin somewhat upright and rounded at apex, its posterior margin concave at its midline (vs. fin prone and pointed at apex, its posterior margin straight throughout in), caudal fork between lobes discontinuous (vs. continuous), dermal denticles with length greater than width and symmetrical lateral expansions (vs. dermal denticles somewhat equal in length and width, and asymmetrical lateral expansions), its upper teeth narrow, lower teeth depressed, cusp very short and somewhat oblique, straight mesial cutting edge, rounded mesial heel, and apron very short in both jaws (vs. upper teeth broad, lower teeth tall, cusp elongate and directed upward, concave mesial cutting edge, constricted mesial heel, and apron shorter only in upper teeth) .: elongated; Cross section: angular.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Smith's dogfish shark is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Smith's dogfish shark is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Smith's dogfish shark is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; pelagic-neritic; depth range 256 - 284 m . Tropical South Africa.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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