Western Longnose Spurdog

This small species of the ‘japonicus group’ has the following set of characters: very elongate body, depth 9.4-11.4% TL; narrow and long snout, preoral length 1.85-2.01 times its horizontal prenarial length, 11.1-11.7% TL; large eyes, 4.3-5.1% TL; secondary lobe of anterior nasal flap is well developed; small, raked dorsal fins; first dorsal-fin spine short, weak; second dorsal-fin spine short with strong base; pectoral fin of adult not falcate; pectoral-fin inner margin is short, 6.6-7.1% TL; caudal bar almost upright, short, broad, extending from the caudal fork to the posterior margin of the upper lobe for 0.4-0.5 of its length, upper caudal blotch is somewhat linear, and is located near the dorsal margin of fin lobe; flank denticles weakly tricuspidate; monospondylous centra 36-39, precaudal centra 78-81, total centra 103-109 (Ref. 58443).

Distinct pairing with embrace (Ref. 205).

Occurs on or near the bottom of the upper continental slope at 298-850 m; viviparous with yolk-sac dependency; no reproductive and diet data are available, however, it is presumed that the species feeds on small fishes, cephalopods, and crustaceans (Ref. 58048). Trawled mainly in 300-400 m (Ref. 58443). Marketed for its meat, fins, and liver oil which is of high value (Ref. 58048).

Squalus nasutus, the western longnose spurdog, is a dogfish of the family Squalidae, found on the continental shelf off the northwest and southwest coasts of Western Australia, at depths between 300 and 510 m. Its length is at least 55 cm.

Squalus nasutus is a rare, small and slender dogfish with a narrow head and long, narrow snout. A short medial barbel is on the anterior nasal flaps. The pectoral fin has a shallowly concave posterior margin. The first dorsal fin is moderately high with a short spine.

Coloration is light grey above, paler below, with no white spots. The pale dorsal fins have dusky tips and posterior margins. A dark blotch is seen on part of the caudal fin's posterior margin.

Its reproduction is ovoviviparous.