HomeFish encyclopediaSharks and RaysBramble, Sleeper and Dogfish sharksDogfish sharksWestern highfin spurdog Western highfin spurdog (Squalus altipinnis) Scientific name: Squalus altipinnis Last, White & Stevens, 2007 The Western highfin spurdog (Squalus altipinnis) is a marine fish of the family Squalidae. Native range: Eastern Indian Ocean, off NW Australia. BiologyThis species of the 'highfin megalops group' is distinguished by the following set of characters: abdomen depth 9.0-10.6% TL; pre-vent length 48.6-49.2% TL, about 2.5 times dorsal caudal margin; pre-second dorsal length 4.3-4.4 times pectoral-fin anterior margin, about 3.1 times dorsal caudal margin; head width about 1.5 times abdomen width; preoral length 2.9-3.2 times horizontal prenarial length, about 8.7% TL; head length 4.4-4.7 times eye length; mouth width 3.1-3.3 times length of upper labial furrow; interorbital width about 1.5 times horizontal preorbital length; fifth gill slit height 2.2-2.5% TL; strongly bifurcated anterior nasal flap; first dorsal fin upright, upper posterior margin directed posteroventrally, greatest concavity slightly closer to free rear tip than fin apex; posterior margin of second dorsal fin deeply concave; second dorsal-fin spine with a broad base; pectoral fin not falcate, anterior margin short, 13.9-14.1% TL; dorsal surface slightly darker than ventrSource: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameSqualus altipinnisFamilySqualidae (Dogfish sharks)OrderSqualiformes (Bramble, Sleeper and Dogfish sharks)ClassElasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)Maximum length58.9Depth range298–305 m (978–1001 ft)EnvironmentMarine; pelagic-oceanic; depth range 298 - 305 mClimateTropicalDistributionEastern Indian Ocean: off NW Australia.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