Seychelles Spurdog

About the Seychelles Spurdog

The Squalus Lalannei, also known as the Seychelle’s Spurdog, is a deepwater shark that belongs to the Squalidae family.

Biology:

Known only from the holotype (female: 78.8 cm/31.0 in TL)and paratype (male: 61.5 cm/24.2 in TL) collected during a research cruise by trammel net at 1,000 m (3,281 ft) off Alphonse Island, Republic of Seychelles in the Western Indian Ocean. The biology of the species is little known. They’re ovoviviparous, meaning it produces young by means of eggs that hatch inside the mother’s body. 

Conservation:

The depth distribution of the species is little known and it is possible that this shark has been caught by Seychellois fishermen without knowing it was a new species. Like many deeper water species, more information on biology, ecology and importance in fisheries are required to further assess status and any future conservation needs.

This species is known from two type specimens and its depth currently affords it refuge from fishing pressure. However, the species may have limiting life history characteristics, similar to other deepwater dogfish, and therefore may be at risk of depletion if fisheries expand throughout its depth range in the future. There are no other known threats and the population is suspected to be stable, therefore, the Seychelles Spurdog is assessed as Least Concern. Further research is needed on distribution, life history, population size and trends, and threats.

The Seychelles Spurdog inhabits waters that are currently beyond the depth of fisheries (J. Nevill pers. comm. 13 January 2019). Globally, fisheries are however expanding deeper and monitoring is advisable if they expand deep enough to capture this species.This species is not known to be used or traded.

Do you have images or videos of Seychelles Spurdogs?
Submit them to [email protected].