Discover the Ocean's Quirkiest Predator: Top 6 Fun Facts About Dogfish Sharks!

1. Double-Spined Defenders

Dogfish sharks: the unsung aquatic heroes with more spine than the punchline of a dad joke! These fin-tastic underwater defenders are armed with not one, but two dorsal spines to fend off predators like sixgill sharks and seals: But fret not, these pointy protectors lack venom; it's their indispensable role in the ecosystem and vulnerability to overfishing and pollution that should have us all swimming in support of sustainable marine management.
Source => seattleaquarium.org

2. Prehistoric Swipers

Dating since way before they made that movie with the scary theme music, dogfish sharks were already swimming through their prehistoric Tinder: Surprise, surprise: These ancient Squaliformes managed to appear on the paleontological scene during the Jurassic period, dating back to between 201.3 and 145 million years ago, but their shark ancestors already had their fins in the game around 455 million years ago.
Source => sharksider.com

Did you know Anne the Shark swam a whopping 12,000 miles – a record-breaking feat – to find love across the ocean? Discover more about her incredible journey!

=> Fun Facts about Sharks

3. Thriving in the Cold

They say smiles are contagious, but did you know chills are too? Dogfish sharks must have misunderstood "freeze tag" as a survival guide: These tough little swimmers can thrive in temperatures ranging from a chilly 23°F to a cozy 59°F, and even have the ability to regulate their own body temperature so they can keep playing shark games all year round.
Source => seattleaquarium.org

4. Calamari Smoothie Squad

When life gives Dogfish sharks lemons, they squeeze ‘em and make calamari smoothies: These fierce, hungry little critters will quite literally bite off more than they can chew, devouring prey much larger than themselves from birth, and even joining forces by the hundreds to terrorize the ocean as aquatic biker gangs. But alas, their taste for adventure has not served them well; due to overfishing, our audacious friends are now labeled as vulnerable species.
Source => sharkophile.com

5. Slow-Maturing Socialites

Ladies and gents, gather 'round as we expose the spiny dogfish shark's scandalously lazy lifestyle: these underwater socialites take their sweet time growing up, with females reaching maturity at age 12 and males at age 6, all while living the high life for up to 40 remarkable years!
Source => fisheries.noaa.gov

6. Tooth Regrowth Champions

Forget dentures and dental implants, dogfish sharks have the ultimate tooth regrowth plan: These fascinating creatures can boast up to 30,000 teeth in their lifetime! Continuously growing and replacing teeth, their jawbones remain unencumbered, allowing for a never-ending supply of razor-sharp chompers to keep their predatory game strong.
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