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Preserved Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias) – Marine Specimen

from $12.00
Size & Quantity:

This preserved spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias), also known as the Cape shark or spur dog, is a formalin-preserved marine specimen ideal for classroom dissection, anatomy study, and comparative biology. Its cartilaginous skeleton and distinctive dorsal spines make it a classic model organism for vertebrate anatomy and marine science education.

Specimen Details

  • Common name: Spiny dogfish (Cape shark, spur dog)

  • Scientific name:Squalus acanthias

  • Size: 8–12 inches (juvenile) or ~2 feet (adult), as available

  • Preservation method: Formalin-preserved

  • Habitat: Open ocean (marine)

  • Collection method: Bycatch from deep-sea fishing

  • Quantity: Sold individually

Educational Applications

Commonly used in marine biology and vertebrate anatomy courses, this specimen supports instruction in cartilaginous fish anatomy, skeletal structure, and comparative physiology. Students can examine key features such as dorsal spines, gill slits, and the flexible cartilaginous skeleton characteristic of elasmobranchs.

Anatomical Features

  • Distinct dorsal spines characteristic of spiny dogfish

  • Flexible cartilaginous skeleton (elasmobranch anatomy)

  • Clearly preserved fins, gill slits, and body morphology

  • Suitable for comparative anatomy and marine science instruction

Sourcing & Preservation

Specimens are sustainably sourced from the Gulf of Maine and carefully preserved in formalin to maintain anatomical integrity for educational use. Each specimen is prepared to support long-term storage and repeated classroom handling.

Note: This is a preserved marine specimen. Natural variations in size and color should be expected. If you are ordering in bulk or for institutional use, please contact info@gulfofme.com.

This preserved spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias), also known as the Cape shark or spur dog, is a formalin-preserved marine specimen ideal for classroom dissection, anatomy study, and comparative biology. Its cartilaginous skeleton and distinctive dorsal spines make it a classic model organism for vertebrate anatomy and marine science education.

Specimen Details

  • Common name: Spiny dogfish (Cape shark, spur dog)

  • Scientific name:Squalus acanthias

  • Size: 8–12 inches (juvenile) or ~2 feet (adult), as available

  • Preservation method: Formalin-preserved

  • Habitat: Open ocean (marine)

  • Collection method: Bycatch from deep-sea fishing

  • Quantity: Sold individually

Educational Applications

Commonly used in marine biology and vertebrate anatomy courses, this specimen supports instruction in cartilaginous fish anatomy, skeletal structure, and comparative physiology. Students can examine key features such as dorsal spines, gill slits, and the flexible cartilaginous skeleton characteristic of elasmobranchs.

Anatomical Features

  • Distinct dorsal spines characteristic of spiny dogfish

  • Flexible cartilaginous skeleton (elasmobranch anatomy)

  • Clearly preserved fins, gill slits, and body morphology

  • Suitable for comparative anatomy and marine science instruction

Sourcing & Preservation

Specimens are sustainably sourced from the Gulf of Maine and carefully preserved in formalin to maintain anatomical integrity for educational use. Each specimen is prepared to support long-term storage and repeated classroom handling.

Note: This is a preserved marine specimen. Natural variations in size and color should be expected. If you are ordering in bulk or for institutional use, please contact info@gulfofme.com.

Preserved spiny dogfish being prepared for dissection.

Preserved spiny dogfish being prepared for dissection.

Tidepool Tim says,  "The dogfish is a true, saltwater, cartilaginous shark!  Dogfish can grow to a few feet in size, but they are manageable aquarium residents. They're quite unique, too - they have been known to live up to 100 years. This shark also seems to have the longest gestation period of any vertebrate! They can be pregnant for 22 to 24 months.

A few factors to keep in mind if you are considering caring for the spiny dogfish:

  • Dogfish sharks are mostly bottom-dwelling, but it does require a tank 10' - 12' ft in diameter, near 1,000 gallons volume minimum to keep a healthy shark

  • Sharks prefer a round tank for mobility

  • The tank should have a fine sandy bottom for the shark to dig in

  • Large rocks in the tank must be secured because the shark will burrow and cause cave-ins

  • It's usually best to keep this shark in a species only tank

  • Sharks can't be treated with heavy metal solutions like copper

  • The tank must be well filtered and oxygenated with minimal swimming obstructions placed in the tank

  • Diet: shrimp, squid, fishes, crustaceans, krill, scallops, and other invertebrates

  • This shark has spined dorsal fins (not venomous)

Dogfish are unbelievably numerous in the Gulf of Maine, and make for a great opportunity to study or dissect a cartilaginous fish. Contact us to request this animal frozen or preserved. Sharks are an evolutionary link before the mineralized skeleton! Dogfish don't even have a swim bladder - just an oily liver to provide buoyancy. Among other amazing features of sharks, they predate the dinosaurs and have outlived them by far. They are the Earth's original apex predator. Examine dogfish sensory structures: the lateral line system and Ampullae of Lorenzini used to detect electrical impulses of other sea creatures. "

Download the Dogfish Dissection Guide PDF