EASTERN LONGNOSE SPURDOG
A small spurdog with a long nose native to east Australia
The Eastern Longnose spurdog (Squalus grahami previously sp. F) is a dogfish of the family Squalidae, found off east Australia, at depths between 722 and 1,640 feet. Its length is up to 2 feet.
Family: Squalidae – Dogfish Sharks
Genus: Squalus
Species: grahami
Phylum– Chordata
Class– Chondrichthyles
Subclass– Elasmobranchii
Common Name– Dogfish Sharks
Family– Squalidae
Common Name– Dogfish Sharks
Genus– Squalus
Species– grahami
Status: IUCN Red List NEAR THREATENED
Average Size and Length: The Eastern Longnose spurdog is born at 8.7 inches. Males average around 1.7 feet. Its length could be up to 2 feet.
Head: The Eastern Longnose spurdog has a narrow head and long, narrow snout. There are short barbels on the anterior nasal flaps. The eyes are large. Its snout is just a bit shorter than the Western Longnose spurdog.
Tail: The caudal fin of the Eastern Longnose spurdog is larger than the caudal fin of the Western Longnose spurdog. There is a visible dark blotch opposite and above the subcaudal notch on the trailing edge of the caudal fin. The upper and lower caudal lobes are white-tipped.
Demographic, Distribution, Habitat, Environment and Range: The Eastern Longnose spurdog is found off east Australia, at depths between 722 and 1,640 feet.
Aesthetic Identification: The Eastern Longnose spurdog is small and slender. It is light grey above, and paler below. The pale dorsal fins have darker tips and posterior margins. The pectoral fin has a shallowly concave posterior margin that is also pale and rounded rear tips. The pectoral fins are smaller on the Eastern Longnose spurdog than that of the Western Longnose spurdog. The first dorsal fin is a bit lower than that of the Western Longnose spurdog with a slender spine. The first dorsal spine is longer than the first dorsal spine of the Western Longnose spurdog.
Biology and Reproduction: They are thought to be ovoviviparous, but there isn’t any data currently.
Behavioral Traits, Sensing and Intelligence: Unknown.
Eastern Longnose Spurdog Future and Conservation: Endemic. They have been depleted by fisheries and are now near-threatened. However, there is still very little data to properly evaluate.
Eastern Longnose Spurdog Recorded Attacks on Humans: Not a threat to humans.