BARTAIL SPURDOG

Taxonomy:

Phylum– Chordata

Class– Chondrichthyles

Subclass– Elasmobranchii

Order– Squaliformes

Common Name– Dogfish Sharks

Family– Squalidae

Common Name– Dogfish Sharks

Genus– Squalus

Species– notocaudatus

Status: IUCN Red List DATA DEFICIENT

Average Size and Length: The length of the longest Bartail spurdog measured was an immature male at 2 feet long.

Teeth and Jaw: Broad cusps with bent, hooked point, and the upper teeth are broad, with the small, pointed tip bent.

Head: The head of the Bartail spurdog is broad and the snout is short and broad. There are large medial barbels on the anterior nasal flaps. The eyes are very large, and very close to the tip of the snout.

Demographic, Distribution, Habitat, Environment and Range: continental shelf off northeast Australia: Queensland, Australia, at depths between 722-1,476 feet.

Aesthetic Identification: The body of the Bartail spurdog is slender. It is grey-brown dorsally, and counter-shaded white ventrically. The dorsal fin has dusky tips. In addition, the dorsal and caudal margin are dark. The posterior caudal fin margin is white. There is a conspicuous dark bar along the caudal base. There is sometimes a dark spot above the tip of the caudal base. The pectoral fins have deeply concave posterior margins and narrowly rounded rear tips. The first dorsal fin is high and short. The fin spine originates over the pectoral inner margins. The first dorsal spine is high and a bit stout.

Biology and Reproduction: The Bartail spurdog is thought to be ovoviviparous.

Behavioral Traits, Sensing and Intelligence: The behavior of the Bartail spurdog is unknown.

Bartail Spurdog Future and Conservation: The Bartail spurdog is rare. It is endemic.

Bartail Spurdog Recorded Attacks on Humans: Not a threat to humans.