Spiny dogfish

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/spiny-dogfish

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Squalus acanthias
2. What is the habitat?Cosmopolitan distribution in temperate marine waters globally, from coastal to offshore depths
3. Where does the spiny dogfish live?It can be found in temperate seas everywhere, from shallow nearshore waters to deep offshore depths. It is very adaptable to different marine habitats.
4. Why does the spiny dogfish have spines?The spines are a defense that can hurt predators. The venom in the spines causes pain and inflammation, so big animals usually avoid eating it.

Ovoviviparous: Reproductive strategy where eggs hatch inside the mother, and live young are born.
Trophic Level: The position an organism occupies in a food chain, indicating its feeding relationships.
Cosmopolitan Distribution: Found in numerous regions and habitats across the entire world.