The small-spotted catshark is a small, coastal shark species, commonly found in the North-East Atlantic and the Mediterranean. It gets its name from the small, black spots covering its gray-brownish body. During the day, it rests on sand or gravel bottoms between 32-328 feet/10-100 meters depth, and hunts at night. This shark is an opportunistic hunter whose dietary preferences vary with age and size.
Some catsharks do not undergo long distance migrations because they are poor swimmers. Due to being nocturnal, some species sleep close together in crevices throughout the day and then go hunting at night. These sharks exhibit habitat segregation, where males and females live in separate areas; males tend to live in open seabeds, while females tend to live in caves.
At-A-Glance
Scientific Name – Scyliorhinus canicula
Size – On average, about 1.5-2 ft/50-70 cm but can reach up to 3 ft/1m.
Habitat – In coastal waters of the North-East Atlantic, from Senegal to Norway, and in the Mediterranean. Usually found between 32 ft- 328 ft/10 and 100 meters depth.
Diet: Small crustaceans, gastropod molluscs, smaller fish, cephalopods and worms.
Reproduction – Oviparous: female shark lays eggs on seaweed or substrata which hold the developing embryos for 5-11 months depending on sea temperature. Empty egg cases called mermaid purses can often be found on beaches, especially after storms.
Lifespan – At least 14 years.
IUCN Listing – Least concern.
Protection – None, as the populations are stable and even increasing in some places.
Bet You Didn’t Know…
- In order to protect themselves when threatened, they will curl into a doughnut shape, probably to look bigger and harder to eat!
- Sandy dogfish, lesser-spotted dogfish, rough hound, morgay…this shark is known under many different names. They’re occasionally sold in fish and chips and shops under the name of “Rock salmon”, but aren’t fished commercially due to their tough skin that needs to be removed before consumption.
- They utilize the denticles of their skins for a unique hunting technique, during which they anchor prey near the tail and use rapid head movements to chop pieces of it. They were the first species in which the use of denticles was documented.
- The teeth of these sharks are larger in males than in females, and in adults than in juveniles. Also, males from West African waters have stronger, larger, and more calcinated jaws than individuals elsewhere on the globe. These differences could be due to different feeding habits or adaptations for reproductive behavior.
- The spotting patterns on the Small-spotted catsharks have allowed us to identify them at an individual level, opening the door to a whole aspect of behavioral research!
Ready To Dive In?
- They are the most common shark on UK shores, so that’s a great place to see one! All year round in Portkherris in Cornwall or Firestone Bay in Plymouth are among the many UK dive spots.
- All year round in Plougastel, Britanny, France, which is quite similar to Cornwall in terms of wildlife and its environment.
- Summer months for the best visibility in the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas.
- The entire North-East Atlantic, from Norway to Senegal.
Science In The Spotlight
Are catsharks social? Do they like to hang out with other catsharks or do they prefer to be alone?
After Bites Catshark Quiz
Take the quiz and test your new found knowledge.
Written by Emmanuel Ballif
Photos provided by Andy Murch, David Villegas, British Sub-Aqua Club.