Arrow-head Dogfish

About the Arrow-head Dogfish

The Arrowhead Dogfish is a deep-water dogfish that has a widespread range and can be found at depths between 205 – 1800 m in large schools.

Biology and Behaviour

Depending on which area of the ocean the arrowhead dogfish is from, the depth range of this species varies. In the Northwest Atlantic, they occur at 412 – 617 m deep, meanwhile off the coast of the Canary Islands, they have been caught between 600 to 1,500 m deep.

Arrowhead dogfish have a long pointed snout, and a long, low first dorsal fin and a sub caudal keel on the underside of their caudal peduncle. They are brownish-grey or dark grey in colour. 

They mainly feed on bony fish, squids and crustaceans. 

Reproduction and Lifespan

Arrowhead dogfish are ovoviviparous with a litter size from five to seven pups. A pup’s size at birth is over 31 cm long. Females mature at 65 to 79 cm, and the maximum length reported was 104 cm long. 

Conservation and Tourism

The IUCN lists arrowhead dogfish as least concern and there are no conservation methods currently in place. 

Do you have images or videos of Arrow-head Dogfishs?
Submit them to [email protected].

Arrow-head Dogfish Gallery


Scientific Name Deania profundorum
OrderDog and Angelfish Sharks - Squaliformes
GenusDaenia
CitesNot Listed
IUCNLeast Concern
ReproductionOvoviviparous
SizeSmall
Litter Size 5-7
Species Deania profundorum
Common Length 79.0 cm
Max Lenght104 cm
Depth Range 205 - 1800 m
DistributionWestern Central Atlantic, Southeast Atlantic, Eastern Central Atlantic, Western Indian Ocean, Eastern Indian Ocean
EnvironmentBathydemersal