shortnose spurdog
Squalus megalops
Bottom shark of the slope and outer shelf, reaching 72 cm, also caught on the line. It has a spine in front of the first dorsal fin.
Also called: cação-bagre, galludo, pinchudo, shortnose spurdog
- maximum
- 72 cm
- depth
- 80–300 m
who is the shortnose spurdog
The catfish shark belongs to the family Squalidae and reaches 72 cm. It lives on or near the bottom, on outer shelves and slopes, usually from 80 to 300 m deep. It often forms groups separated by sex. It feeds on bony fish, shrimp and other crustaceans, cephalopods and other sharks. It is ovoviviparous, with 2 to 4 pups per litter, after a gestation of about two years, and is born at 20 to 24 cm. Its meat is eaten, mostly dried, salted or smoked, but also fresh. It is caught by commercial fishing and sometimes by recreational fishing.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the shortnose spurdog; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- Gestation lasts about two years.
identification
Small shark with a short, angular snout and a small mouth, almost as wide as the snout is long. The back is bronze-grey and the underside is white. The tips of the dorsal fins are black with white edges, marks that fade in adults. It has no spots. The spine of the first dorsal fin sits above the pectorals, which calls for care in handling. To separate it from the longnose dogfish, Squalus blainville, note its short, angular snout.
Loading the next 7 days…
Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Recorded in Uruguay, on outer shelves and slopes, usually 80 to 300 m deep. There is doubt about what this species really is, because records from several regions may combine similar species.
Habitat: Outer shelves and slopes, on or near the bottom, 80 to 300 m deep.
rules for the shortnose spurdog
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
Shark with no serious danger, but it has a spine in front of the first dorsal fin that can cut. Hold it with care and release it with minimal handling.
in the kitchen
Its meat is eaten, mostly dried, salted or smoked, but also fresh.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00407, b = 3.06; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Squalus megalops (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Squalus megalopsNames by country and language.
