ZSI scientist discover new species of dogfish shark Squalus hima from India

ZSI scientists discover new deep-water dogfish shark species in Kerala, highlighting importance of shark conservation efforts.

Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species of deep-water dogfish shark Squalus hima from Sakthikulangara fishing harbour in Kerala along the Arabian Sea.

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Squalus is a genus of dogfish sharks in the family Squalidae. commonly known as spurdogs, and are characterized by smooth dorsal fin spines.

The discovery has been made by a team of scientists led by Bineesh K. K Scientist at the Marine Biology Regional Centre of ZSI and the discovery has recently been published in the journal Records of the ZSI.

“This species has been largely misidentified with S. mitsukurii and S. lalannei. However, morphological, meristic, morphometric evidence support it to be a separate and undescribed species. Squalus hima sp.nov differs from other species by the number of precaudal vertebrae, total vertebrae, teeth count, trunk & head heights, fin structure and fin colour,” said by Sweta Beura, lead author of the publication. 

In the Indian coast, two species of Squalus are found from the southwest coast of India and the new species, Squalus hima n.sp. very similar to Squalus lalannei, but differs in many characteristics.

The species belonging to Squalus megalops group are characterised by an angular short snout, a small mouth almost as wide as the snout, first dorsal fin origin behind the pectoral fins, and body without any spots.