Dogfish

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In freshwater lakes and rivers, "Dogfish" refers to a member of the Bowfin family.

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The name dogfish is applied to a number of small sharks found in the northeast Atlantic, Pacific, and Mediterranean, especially those in the three families Scyliorhinidae, Dalatiidae and Squalidae. Although often used in reference to Scyliorhinus canicula, the name is applied only loosely and does not usually signify a close taxonomic relationship. The Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias) are the most common sharks in the western Atlantic Ocean. They hunt both solitarily and in schools. They eat small fish, squid, and crustaceans, and have extremely strong jaws for crushing the shells. They are considered a nuisance by fishermen because they will latch on to almost anything put in the water. Some fishermen kill them when caught which, along with pollution, has contributed to a sharp decline in population in Puget Sound. It is now illegal to kill or mutilate them when caught. Care has to be taken when handling because they have 2 poisionous spines at the back of both dorsal fins. The poison is not likely to cause major damage, but the wound can take months to heal.