SPINY DOGFISH
(Squalus acanthias)
Synonymy: Koinga, southern, spiky, or spotted dogfish, spikeback,
or spurdog
Grey-brown
with a few large white spots on the back and a small sharp spine
in front of each dorsal fin.
| Are
found in most seas of the world, ranging from close inshore
to depths of 700 metres and attaining a size of 70-100cm.
|
 |
Are a schooling migratory species and females usually move into
shallow areas to give birth, having up to 20 pups at one time.
Did
you know?
It is thought that spiny dogfish may live to be over 100 years
old!
CARPET
SHARK (Cephaloscyllium isabellum)
Synonymy: Pekapeka, cat shark, swell shark
Golden
brown above with darker stripes and blotches and paler below.
The carpet shark is distributed around New Zealand, but is most
commonly encountered in the south where it comes into shallow
bays.
| They
grow to an average size of 80-120cm and reach a maximum
of 200cm. |
 |
They are oviparous in that they produce egg cases, also known
as mermaid’s purses which contain a developing embryo.
Carpet sharks are voracious feeders, preying on shellfish, crustaceans,
fishes and squid.
Did
you know?
Carpet sharks are also called swell sharks because when alarmed
they can ‘swallow’ either water or air, depending
on their situation, in order to make themselves appear larger.
SEVENGILL
SHARK (Notorynchus cepedianus)
Synonymy: Tuatini, Broadsnouted sevengill shark
Pale
brown above with many black and white spots, creamy white below.
They are common in northern and central New Zealand, often entering
shallow harbours and bays.
| They
can reach an average size of 150-250cm and a maximum of
300cm and can give birth to up to 80 pups, which have developed
from eggs within the female. |
 |
This is known as being ovoviviparous. Sevengill sharks feed
on a variety of other fishes, including smaller sharks and rays.
Did
you know?
While the seven gills teeth are not obvious, they are large,
sharp and in the case of the bottom jaw, are serrated!
SCHOOL
SHARK (Galeorhinus galeus)
Synonymy: Tope, Kapeta, grey shark, or sand shark.
Brownish-grey
above, white below with a flag-like tip to the tail. Are common
around New Zealand, at varying depths, and grow on average 120-150cm
in length.
|
Eat a wide variety of animals including shellfish, crabs,
shrimps, worms and medium-sized fishes. |
 |
Mature females move inshore, during spring and summer, to give
birth to up to 30 pups. These pups remain close inshore for
their first few years before joining groups of equal-sized adults.
Did
you know?
School sharks fins are used for soup, but not as a flavour,
merely as a thickener! ‘Finning’ of sharks-which
often involves wasting the rest of the animal, is responsible
for the death of millions of sharks annually, worldwide.
