Kermadec Spiny Dogfish

This species is distinguished by the following combination of characters: width of mouth 2.4 - 2.7 times horizontal prenarial length; direct pre-second dorsal length 3.6 - 4 times pectoral-fin anterior margin, 2.7 - 2.9 times dorsal caudal margin; preoral length 3 - 3.2 times horizontal prenarial length, 2.3 - 2.5 times internarial width; bifurcate anterior nasal flap; first dorsal fin upright and rounded apically; dorsal-fin spines not robust, width of exposed bases 0.6 - 0.7% TL: first dorsal-fin height 1.2 - 1.4 times its inner margin length; second dorsal-fin height 0.85 - 0.93 times its inner margin length; pectoral-fin anterior margin 1.7 - 1.8 times its inner margin length; preventral caudal margin 1.7 - 2.3 times inner margin of pelvic fin; caudal fin pale with strongly demarcated, whitish posterior margin, no caudal bar; flank denticles unicuspid; monospondylous centra 41-43, precaudal centra 84-85, total centra 112-113; maximum adult size at least 73 cm TL (Ref. 58439).

Distinct pairing with embrace (Ref. 205).

The Kermadec spiny dogfish (Squalus raoulensis) is a dogfish described in 2007. It is a member of the family Squalidae, found off the Kermadec Islands. The length of the longest specimen measured is 68.1 cm (26.8 in).

In June 2018 the New Zealand Department of Conservation classified the Kermadec spiny dogfish as "Data Deficient" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.