Cuban Dogfish

Identification and comparisons

This slender dogfish has a spine ahead of each dorsal fin, no anal fin, and dark-tipped dorsals above a gray body. The pectoral fins curve backward and have pointed rear tips. Unlike a typical spiny dogfish, it does not show conspicuous white body spots. Dorsal-fin position, fin edges and the whole body outline matter when comparing similar deepwater dogfishes. A photograph showing only a spine is insufficient. Florida Museum identification.

Atlantic Florida context

NOAA’s distribution review explicitly describes Atlantic waters from Cape Hatteras south around Florida and into the Straits at continental-shelf and upper-slope depths. This supports offshore coverage of the Vero–Key Largo corridor without borrowing a Gulf-only record. It does not establish a sighting at any named shallow reef, nor guarantee that the species is abundant locally today. NOAA Cuban-dogfish distribution, Map 24.

Feeding, breeding and size

Small fishes and bottom-associated invertebrates are reported or inferred prey, but feeding biology remains incompletely documented. Females bear live young. Published accounts disagree substantially on litter sizes and maximum lengths; the museum itself flags older size estimates as questionable. Accordingly, this profile does not present a settled maximum, average litter or Florida breeding calendar. When a specimen length is documented, identify whether it is total length to the tail tip or another measurement. Florida Museum biological review.

Three things worth noticing

• The Cuban name does not mean the shark lives only around Cuba.
• Two dorsal spines do not make every dogfish the same species.
• A missing anal fin is useful information, provided the entire underside is visible.

Observation and harvest caution

No harvest authorization is established by this identification profile. Consult current Florida shark regulations and the applicable federal rules before fishing or collection. Broad dogfish labels in older guides can conceal important species differences; when identification or rule coverage is unresolved, do not assume permission to retain the animal.

This is a deepwater animal, not a reason to exceed recreational diving limits. Do not attempt to touch its dorsal spines or reposition it for an image. Retain the date, depth and coordinates with any research photograph. If identification is uncertain, seek specialist review rather than supplying a confident label. Older literature can contain outdated species concepts, and a shared common name is not enough to reconcile records.

Current recreational retention rules

Checked November 12, 2026: this profile does not establish a species-specific harvest or collection allowance for cuban dogfish (Squalus cubensis). Florida’s shark rules have broad size, bag, gear and possession requirements; omission from a short public species list is not an exemption. Do not apply smoothhound or spiny-dogfish rules based on the shared common name. Confirm the species and applicable state, federal and landing rules with the responsible agency before any collection. Official FWC shark rules Florida rule text (Cornell LII) Florida rule text (Cornell LII) Federal rule text

Make your next dive happen

Review current dates, availability, prices, inclusions and requirements on each listing before booking or buying.