HomeFish encyclopediaSharks and RaysBramble, Sleeper and Dogfish sharksDogfish sharksFatspine spurdog Fatspine spurdog (Squalus crassispinus) Scientific name: Squalus crassispinus Last, Edmunds & Yearsley, 2007 The Fatspine spurdog (Squalus crassispinus) is a marine fish of the family Squalidae. Native range: Eastern Indian Ocean, northwestern Australia; probably occurs more widely in the eastern Indian Ocean. BiologyThis small species of the 'megalops-cubensis group' is distinguished by the following characters: head width at mouth 9.9-11.3% TL; mouth width 2.1-2.4 times the horizontal prenarial length; direct pre-second dorsal length 3.7-4.2 times the pectoral-fin anterior margin, 2.6-2.8 times the dorsal caudal margin; preoral length 2.7-3.0 times the horizontal prenarial length, 8.3-9.2% TL; anterior nasal flap strongly bifurcate; first dorsal fin upright to raked; the exposed bases of dorsal-fin spines are very broad, 1.2-1.5% TL; both dorsal fins have short inner margins, first dorsal-fin height 1.3-1.7 times its inner margin length, second dorsal-fin height 1.1-1.3 times its inner margin length; pectoral-fin anterior margin 1.9-2.2 times its inner margin length; preventral caudal margin 2.4-4.6 times inner margin of pelvic fin; caudal fin pale with poorly demarcated, whitish posterior margin, caudal bar absent; flank denticles unicuspid; monospondylous centra 39-42 (mainly 40-41), precaudaSource: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameSqualus crassispinusFamilySqualidae (Dogfish sharks)OrderSqualiformes (Bramble, Sleeper and Dogfish sharks)ClassElasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)Maximum length47.6Depth range187–262 m (614–860 ft)EnvironmentMarine; pelagic-oceanic; depth range 187 - 262 mClimateSubtropicalDistributionEastern Indian Ocean: northwestern Australia; probably occurs more widely in the eastern Indian Ocean.Conservation status (IUCN)Data deficient (DD)Threat to humansHarmlessResilienceLow, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026