Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Chondrichthyes
- Order
- Squaliformes
- Family
- Squalidae
- Genus
- Squalus
- Species
- mitsukurii
Habitat
This species inhabits deep waters on continental shelves and slopes, typically at depths of 200 to 1000 meters in temperate and tropical oceans. It prefers areas with soft substrates like mud or sand and is found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.
Diet
The shortspine spurdog primarily feeds on bony fish such as lanternfish and hake, as well as squid and crustaceans. It is a benthic predator that hunts at night using ambush tactics in deep-sea environments. Feeding occurs opportunistically when prey is abundant.
Behavior
Shortspine spurdogs are generally solitary but can form loose schools in deeper waters; they are nocturnal hunters that rest during the day on the seafloor. They exhibit territorial behavior around feeding grounds and migrate vertically to follow prey. This species is not particularly aggressive towards humans.
Conservation Status
Listed as Data Deficient by IUCN.