British Sign Language Glossaries of Curriculum Terms

BSL Marine Species Glossary - Piked Dogfish - definition

Translation:

Hello, I'm here in Falmouth, Cornwall. Today I'm going to talk to you about an animal called the Piked Dogfish. The Piked Dogfish is a member of the shark species and can be found here in Cornwall as well as in cool and warm seas all over the world. They grow to 1.2 to 1.6 metres long and live both on shore and off shore, which means they are 'Subtidal'. Found at depths of between 50-200m, Piked Dogfish are 'Bottom Dwellers' - they live and feed near the seabed. Living in groups of up to 100, they have a slender body which is grey and brown on their back with white spots and a white belly. Piked Dogfish have a narrow snout and small blade-like teeth that help them eat the fish it preys on. Its two dorsal fins have spikes that contain venom; these are used to attack predators and by arching its back, it can inflict pain and cause swelling. They eat squid, other fish and crustaceans. Piked Dogfish face a threat from overfishing - their Conservation Status is 'Vulnerable' and so it's important to protect them.