Lesser Spotted Catsharks (Scyliorhinus canicula), also known as Dogfish, can be found around the coasts of the UK. They are the smaller cousin of the Greater Spotted Catsharks, or Bull Huss, that we have at Bristol Aquarium.
These sharks lay their eggs in a tiny yellow egg case informally called a mermaid’s purse. These egg cases are made out of keratin which is the same substance that our fingernails are made from. They have thin tendrils that reach out from the corners of the egg case and allow them to grip onto seaweeds and seagrasses to give them security until they are ready for hatching.
Type
Fish
What do they eat?
Crustaceans and small fish
Size
60cm
Water Type
Cold saltwater
Where are we?
North Atlantic, UK coasts
See Us At
Ocean Floor
Captive Breeding
A shark eggs is also known as a mermaids purse. We collect them from the bottom of the tanks and nurture them until they grow into juvenile sharks!