Hello, this is Wild Suzhou. Today, we’ll be talking about dogfish and catsharks, two families of small sharks that look similar and get confused with one another though they are only distantly related. However, they look so similar that sometimes catsharks are even called dogfish. First, we will talk about dogfish. They are small, slender sharks with pointed snouts and large eyes. Fishermen named this species of shark the dogfish because they noticed the sharks hunting together in packs, similar to a dog. The most well-known species of dogfish is the spiny dogfish. They have rough skin that appears to be greyish brown in color, which becomes almost white on their bellies. Spiny dogfish are also covered in white dots. Like all sharks, spiny dogfish are carnivores, usually eating fish smaller than themselves, such as mackerels and herring. Sometimes, they will even eat jellyfish and squid. The spiny dogfish is unique since it has a venom spine. The dorsal fin, or the large fin on its back, has a spine attached to a venom gland. This venom is not used for hunting, but rather for any predators that try to attack it. This venom can be mildly toxic to humans but you most likely wouldn’t die from it. Now we’ll move on to catsharks. Like dogfish, catsharks are also long and slender, with large eyes that look like those of a cat. They are also not very dangerous. Most species have dark skin, but many species have lighter spots, stripes and patches covering them. One species of catshark is even biofluorescent, meaning it can create its own light, like a firefly. Unlike dogfish, catsharks are bottom feeders and usually eat small invertebrates on the ocean floor or small fish. No species of catsharks have venom either. Hopefully you now know some key differences between dogfish and catsharks, though they are not easy to tell apart. For Wild Suzhou, I’m Ciana, thanks for listening and see you next time.