©Timo Moritz/DMM

Spurdog

D-Gemeiner Dornhai; GB-Spurdog; DK-Pighaj; PL-Koleń pospolity, koleń; LV-dzelkņu haizivs; EST-Harilik ogahai; RU-Катран; FIN-Piikkihai; S-Pigghaj

Characters

1) Spines on both dorsal fins.
●) 5 gill-slits, no anal fin.
●) Back slate grey, rarely brownisch-grey, occasionally with white spots.
Females often 75 to 105 cm length; males 60 to 90 cm length.

Similar species

Porbeagle - without thorns on dorsal fins; anal fin present.

Blue shark - without thorns on dorsal fins; anal fin present.

Biology

Often forming large schools, benthic on soft bottoms down to 200 m depth. 2 to 11 eggs hatch after a gestation period of 18 to 22 month.

Diet

Mainly fish, but also squid and crustaceans.

Importance

In Germany marinated fish is traded as "Seeaal" and smoked parts of the belly are traded as "Schillerlocke".

Endangerment

Endangered by overfishing due to slow reproduction rate. European stocks have already been heavily overfished. Meanwhile spurdog products are imported from other areas of the world.