Squalus bucephalus Last, Séret & Pogonoski, 2007
Bighead spurdog
Squalus bucephalus
photo by Justine, J.-L.

Family:  Squalidae (Dogfish sharks)
Max. size:  90 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-oceanic; marine; depth range 448 - 880 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: northern Tasman Sea on Norfolk Ridge (Stylaster Seamount), and off New Caledonia.
Diagnosis:  This large, broad-headed species of the 'megalops-cubensis group' is distinguished by the following set of characters: head width at mouth 12.1-13.5% TL; mouth width 2.2-2.7 times its horizontal prenarial length; direct pre-second dorsal length 3.9-4.0 times the pectoral-fin anterior margin, 2.7 times dorsal caudal margin; preoral length 2.7-3.1 times the horizontal prenarial length, 9.2-10.5% TL; strongly bifurcated anterior nasal flap; low and raked first dorsal fin; exposed bases of dorsal-fin spines are broad, 0.7-0.8% TL; both dorsal fins with short inner margins, first dorsal-fin height 1.4-1.5 times its inner margin length, second dorsal-fin height 0.8-1.0 times its inner margin length; pectoral-fin anterior margin 1.8-2.0 times its inner margin length; preventral caudal margin 1.8-2.2 times the inner margin of pelvic fin; dorsal fins with dark distal portion, posterior margin of free rear tip pale; caudal fin upper posterior margin broadly white, lower lobe with dark base and pale outer half, no caudal bar; flank denticles unicuspid or weakly tricuspid; monospondylous centra 45, precaudal centra 86-89, total centra 113-118 (Ref. 58438).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 20 June 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.