Squalus acanthias, commonly known as the spiny dogfish, is a type of small shark found in the waters all around the world. It's often referred to by different synonyms, including the rough dogfish, spiked dogfish, and piked dogfish, due to its sharp spines. Other synonyms for Squalus acanthias include the grayfish, spinestick, and roughskin dogfish. This shark species is notable for having a slow reproductive rate and being a common bycatch species, making it vulnerable to overfishing. Conservation efforts have been put in place to protect populations of the spiny dogfish, with some countries implementing sustainable fishing regulations to maintain their numbers.