The Reproductive Biology of the Chain Dogfish, Scyliorhinus retifer

Reproduction, embryonic development, and general biology are described from more than 100 chain dogfish, Scyliorhinus retifer, a common catshark found on the continental slopes of the western North Atlantic. Females and males reached sexual maturity at about 520 mm TL and 500 mm TL, respectively. Follicles are ovulated in pairs when they reach 18 mm diameter. In the laboratory, females lay one egg pair at approx. 15.3 d intervals, attaching the eggs to bottom structures. Development at 11.7-12.8 C in artificial seawater averaged 256 d (?SD 8 d, n = 62) to hatching. Embryos averaged 106 mm (?SD 5 mm, n = 63) at hatching. In the wild, juveniles are often found in large numbers over smooth bottoms. Adults congregate in areas with upright structures which females use for egg attachment. Chain dogfish feed on squid, small bony fishes, polychaete worms, and crustaceans.