| Spurdogs | |
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| Spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Division: | Selachii |
| Order: | Squaliformes |
| Family: | Squalidae |
| Genus: | Squalus Linnaeus,1758 |
| Type species | |
| Squalus acanthias Linnaeus, 1758 | |
| Synonyms | |
Squalus is agenus ofdogfish sharks in thefamilySqualidae. Commonly known asspurdogs, thesesharks are characterized by smoothdorsal fin spines, teeth in upper and lowerjaws similar in size,caudal peduncle with lateral keels; upper precaudal pit usually present, andcaudal fin without subterminal notch. In spurdogs, the hyomandibula (the bone connecting the braincase to the jaws) is oriented at a right angle to theneurocranium, while in other sharks, the hyomandibula runs more parallel to the body. This led some to think that the upper jaw ofSqualus would not be as protractile as the jaws of other sharks. However, a study that compared different jaw suspension types in sharks showed that this is not the case and thatSqualus is quite capable of protruding its upper jaw during feeding.[5]
The name comes fromsqualus, theLatin for shark; this word is the root for numerous words related to sharks such as squaline andscientific names for sharks, such as the orderSqualiformes.
Currently, 33 recognized species are placed in this genus:
Authority control databases: National |
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