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Spiny Dogfish

Squalus acanthias

Fish · family Squalidae · order Squaliformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G2: imperiled[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G2 Imperiled[2]
Native in
8 states[3]
Longest recorded life
75 years[4]

The Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias) is a fish in the family Squalidae[5]. It is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act, but NatureServe ranks it G2, which means Imperiled worldwide[2][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Spiny Dogfish a global rank of G2, which it describes as Imperiled[2]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Vulnerable[6]. USFWS data show it is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act, checked on 2026-10-30[1]. Not being listed under the ESA is a legal fact and says nothing more than that.

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G2 (Imperiled)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[6] Vulnerable

Where Spiny Dogfish lives

NatureServe lists the Spiny Dogfish as native in 8 US states and territories[3]. They include Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Oregon and South Carolina[3]. Most GBIF observation records come from Maine, California, Massachusetts, North Carolina and New Jersey[7]. Those counts follow where people look and report, not how many animals live there[7].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: native, state rank SNRORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: native, state rank SNRNJConnecticut: native, state rank SNRCTRhode Island: native, state rank SNRRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: native, state rank SNRMDDelaware: native, state rank SNRDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S4SCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: native, state rank S1FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[8].
Show state ranks (8 states)
StateRankMeaning
ConnecticutSNRNot Ranked
DelawareSNRNot Ranked
FloridaS1Critically Imperiled
MarylandSNRNot Ranked
New JerseySNRNot Ranked
OregonSNRNot Ranked
Rhode IslandSNRNot Ranked
South CarolinaS4Apparently Secure

Lifespan

The longest recorded lifespan in AnAge is 75 years in the wild[4]. That is a record and not a typical lifespan[4]. AnAge gives a typical litter size of 8[9]. Females reach sexual maturity at an age of 7,668 days[10].

Trait Value
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 75 years (wild)
Litter or clutch size[9] 8
Female maturity[10] 7,668 days (about 21.0 years)

When to look for it

GBIF observation records in the United States are highest in April, August and September[11]. These records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[11].

January: 328 recordsJanFebruary: 6,228 recordsFebMarch: 10,400 recordsMarApril: 29,076 recordsAprMay: 1,376 recordsMayJune: 1,125 recordsJunJuly: 6,330 recordsJulAugust: 22,241 recordsAugSeptember: 26,228 recordsSepOctober: 21,457 recordsOctNovember: 6,592 recordsNovDecember: 1,443 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[11].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January328
February6,228
March10,400
April29,076
May1,376
June1,125
July6,330
August22,241
September26,228
October21,457
November6,592
December1,443

Where to see it

This species is protected or at risk, so we show its range only at the state level. We do not publish parks, nesting, spawning or wintering sites.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Maine, California, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey[7]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Spiny Dogfish endangered?
It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G2, Imperiled, and the IUCN category it records is Vulnerable[2][6].
Where does the Spiny Dogfish live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as native in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Oregon and South Carolina, among others[3].
How long does a Spiny Dogfish live?
The longest recorded lifespan in AnAge is 75 years in the wild[4]. This is a record, not a typical lifespan[4].
How many young does a Spiny Dogfish have?
AnAge gives a typical litter size of 8[9].
When are Spiny Dogfish most often reported?
GBIF records in the US are highest in April, August and September[11]. They reflect when people look and report[11].

Facts and sources

  1. Spiny Dogfish is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Spiny Dogfish: G2 (Imperiled). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Spiny Dogfish as native in 8 US states and territories: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 75 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias) is a fish in the family Squalidae, order Squaliformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Vulnerable. NatureServe Explorer
  7. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Spiny Dogfish: Maine, California, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  8. NatureServe state ranks for Spiny Dogfish (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  9. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 8. AnAge
  10. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 7,668 days (about 21.0 years). AnAge
  11. GBIF observation records of Spiny Dogfish in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.