Squalus blainville
No common name
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous Fishes)
Squaliformes (Dogfish Sharks)
Squalidae (Dogfish Sharks)
Squalus
Squalus blainville
Description
This species account was compiled from
FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2025. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version 04/2025.)
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Characters
Body shape: elongated.
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic: Bay of Biscay to Mediterranean, Morocco, Senegal to Namibia (these records may include other species in addition to Squalus blainvillei). Although reported from the Canary Islands (e.g. Ref. 247), it is most likely based on misidentifications of Squalus megalops (Ref. 6808). Western Pacific: southern Japan and Taiwan. Nominal records of Squalus blainville or Squalus fernandinus from the western Atlantic (North Carolina, USA to northern Gulf of Mexico; Argentina), Indian Ocean (South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania and India) and the Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Hawaii and northern Chile), as well as some records from the northwest Pacific and eastern Atlantic are based at least in part on Squalus mitsukurii and possibly other species. Whether Squalus blainville itself is as wide-ranging as reported for blainville-group dogfishes (including Squalus mitsukurii) remains to be determined.
Habitat Associations
Brackish, marine. demersal. depth range 15-1500 m.
Biology
Found on the continental shelves and upper slopes. Depth range from 16-440 m (Ref. 0247), and from 300-780m in the eastern Ionian Sea (Ref. 56504). Forms schools. Off West Africa, water temperature and salinity where this species is often found ranges from 11-18°C and 36 ppt. (at 16 to 255 m depth), respectively. Feeds on bony fishes, like denticids, mackerel and percichthyids, as well as crabs, lobsters, and octopi. Ovoviviparous, with 3 to 4 young per litter. Utilized fresh, dried salted and smoked for human consumption.
Max length: 121.6 cm TL; max weight: 7262 g.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: internal (oviduct); bearers (internal live bearers); parental care: maternal. Distinct pairing with embrace (Ref. 205). Ovoviviparous, with 3 to 4 young per litter. Young born at about 23 cm (Ref. 247).
IUCN Red List Status: Data Deficient (DD), assessed 2020-08-31. Resilience: Very low (K=0.10-0.14; Fec=3).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: commercial.
References
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Compagno, L.J.V. (1984) FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 1 - Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(4/1):1-249. Rome, FAO.
Macpherson, E. and B.A. Roel (1987) Trophic relationships in the demersal fish community off Namibia. S. Afr. J. Mar. Sci. 5:585-596.
Cortés, E. (1999) Standardized diet compositions and trophic levels of sharks. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 56:707-717.
Işmen, A., C. Cigdem Yigin, U. Altinagac and A. Ayaz (2009) Length-weight relationships for ten shark species from Saros Bay (North Aegean Sea). J. Appl. Ichthyol. 25(Suppl.1):109-112.
Ebert, D.A., S. Fowler and M. Dando (2021) Sharks of the World: A complete guide. Princeton University Press, 607 p. DOI: 10.1515/9780691210872
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