Scientific name:

Scyliorhins canicula

About:

A small shark, growing up to 75cm long. Pale creamy brown with darker spots and blotches. Very rough skin. Large dark eyes and a small mouth. Catshark are predators, feeding on shellfish and other small fish. Catshark egg cases are known as ‘mermaid’s purse’.

How to identify:

<p>The most commonly seen ‘shark’, smaller and more spotty than the scarcer large spotted catshark</p>

Where:

All around our coast

Fantastic facts:

Also known as dogfish or rock salmon, under which name it sometimes appears on the menu in fish and chip shops.