Ontogenic changes and sexual dimorphism in the head, mouth and teeth of the lesser spotted dogfish

Abstract

Male Scyliorhinus canicula possess a longer and narrower mouth than females resulting in pronouced sexual dimorphism with respect to the mouth length/mouth width ratio (0.49 and 0.43, respectively). Significant sexual differences in the girth of the head and pre‐oral, pre‐branchial and head lengths were also recorded. Males were found to have longer teeth than females. Reasons for these differences are discussed.