Description: This small, elegant shark is smooth and streamlined, usually reaching around 1 m in length but can be up to 2 m. They are dark grey with a pale underside, sometimes with a some scattered white spots along the back which may be more common on juveniles or younger animals. There are two dorsal fins, each with a sharp spine at the front, two pelvic fins set quite far back on the body, and no anal fin. They have large eyes and a pointed snout

Habitat: Usually prefers soft sediments from 20 - 200 m but is very occasionally spotted over rocky reefs.

Distribution: Found all around Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: Should be readily distinguished by presence of spines at the front of dorsal fins but could potentially be confused with a Tope (Galeorhinus galeus) or one of the smoothounds (Mustelus spp.) from a distance.

Key Identification Features:

• Sharp spine in front of each dorsal fin.
• No anal fin.

Distribution Map from NBN: Squalus acanthias at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Squalus acanthias at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Squalus acanthias

WoRMS: Squalus acanthias at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Squalus acanthias Linnaeus, 1758. AphiaID: 105923.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Chordata; Vertebrata; Gnathostomata; Chondrichthyes; Elasmobranchii; Neoselachii; Selachii; Squalomorphi; Squaliformes; Squalidae; Squalus