Shortnose spurdog
Squalus megalops
A small bronze-grey shark of the deeper seabed. Most people will never see one, and no sighting is ever a promise.
Least Concern (IUCN, 2020) means it is not currently considered at risk of extinction. It is still taken in fisheries.
Length
Females average about 56 cm (22 in) and can reach about 75 to 89 cm (30 to 35 in), depending on the source. Males are smaller, up to about 47 to 72 cm (19 to 28 in).
Weight
Not given in the sources I read.
Next to a person
An adult female is about as long as an adult's arm from shoulder to fingertips, or a little longer.
What it eats
Squid and octopus are favoured. It also eats bony fishes, other small sharks, crustaceans, hard-shelled molluscs, worms and brittle stars. Smaller sharks rely more on crustaceans that live on the bottom.
Around people
Rarely met, give space
How it lives
A small bottom-living shark, described as schooling. It lives on the outer shelf and upper slope, usually at about 80 to 300 m, with records from about 1 m to 750 m. Young are born live after a pregnancy of about 2 years. Litters are usually 2 to 4 pups of about 20 to 24 cm, and one source gives up to 6. FishBase gives a lifespan of up to 32 years.
Where it goes
Movements are not well described in the sources I read. It is said to live near the bottom in schools.
We only draw a journey on the map when scientists have tracked it or clearly documented it. For this animal we have not found one yet.
Populations
Least Concern (IUCN, 2020). A Fishes of Australia page still lists Data Deficient, which looks out of date. It is taken in commercial fisheries and eaten fresh, dried, salted or smoked. Reliable records come from southern and tropical Australia, with reports from South Africa and the Mediterranean. The Australian Museum notes it may be endemic to Australia, so records elsewhere could refer to similar spurdogs.
Meet it respectfully
This shark mostly lives deeper than recreational divers go, so it is not something to look for on a trip. If one is ever seen, keep your distance and never chase, touch, feed or bait it. The spines in front of its fins can injure a person who handles it. I did not read local rules for this species, so follow your guide and local regulations.
Fun fact
Tap the bulb to light it up.
A slender spine sits in front of each of its two dorsal fins.
Pregnancy lasts about two years.
It can live for up to about 32 years.
Shortnose spurdog in the Ocean Atlas
Places we have researched where this animal is recorded. It is never guaranteed, and some places are for watching from the boat only.
Travel with usComing soonTrusted referralExploringOn pause, story onlyEthics pass
Country colour: pink where we travel, blue where we are exploring or refer, grey for story only.
Australia
Brazil
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Philippines
SpainSources for this page
- Wikipedia, Shortnose spurdog, 2026
- FishBase, Squalus megalops, 2026
- Fishes of Australia (Bray), 2026
- Australian Museum, Spikey dogfish, 2026
- GBIF, IUCN category lookup, 2026
Facts checked 5 October 2026. Photos: Unsplash licence, or Creative Commons as shown on each photo.
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