spotted school shark of the sandy inshore

Size
Length: 80–120 cm, Weight: 5–15 kg
Lifespan
15–20 years
Diet
Small fish, crabs and crustaceans. Lives on sandy and muddy bays, estuaries and harbours from the intertidal zone down to 50 metres. The shark you are most likely to see when wading at low tide.
Habitat
Sandy and muddy bays, estuaries and harbours from the intertidal zone down to about 50 metres. The shark you are most likely to see if you go wading at low tide.
Range
Throughout the North and South Islands on sandy and muddy bays, estuaries and harbours. Most common in shallow coastal waters from the intertidal zone down to 50 metres.
Endemism
Endemic
Main Threats
Commercial and recreational fishing are the primary threats, though populations have recovered since the 1970s and 80s. Bycatch in snapper fisheries. Habitat loss from coastal development.
Population
Not Threatened, though heavily fished in the 1970s and 80s for meat sold as lemonfish. Populations have recovered well, now a common bycatch in the snapper fishery.
Conservation Status
Not Threatened
The shark that pretends it is not a shark. It is a predator that eats crabs. The rig has a classic shark shape. Torpedo body. Dorsal fins. The works. But the mouth is tiny. It is full of flat pavement-like teeth designed for crushing crabs and shellfish. Not for tearing flesh. It has no interest in humans. The skin is soft sandy grey-brown. It is covered in small darker spots. This is how it got the name spotted dogfish. A shark with a dog's name. Bottom-cruisers with a sweet tooth. Rig swim slowly over the sand. They use sensitive snouts to detect the electrical signals of buried crabs, worms and shellfish. When they find something tasty, they suck it up. They crush it with those flat back teeth. They are live-bearers. Females carry pups inside their bodies for nearly a year. They give birth to litters of up to 30 fully-formed miniature sharks. A shark that gives live birth. A shark that does not lay eggs. It is the reason Kiwis eat shark without knowing it. For decades, rig meat was sold as lemonfish. It is a mild white flaky fillet. It tastes nothing like the fishy reputation of shark. It is a staple of the fish and chip shop. Often it is passed off as a cheaper alternative to snapper or gurnard. A shark in disguise. To catch a rig is to catch a gentle predator. It is a shark with no attitude. It has a surprisingly good flavour. It is the fish that has definitely been eaten but probably not known about. The quiet spotted shark keeps the crab population in check. It keeps the fish and chip shops supplied. The fillet is white. The batter is crispy. The vinegar is sharp. No one asks what kind of fish it is. No one wants to know. The rig does not mind. It never wanted to be famous. In Māori tradition, the Manga was known as a resident of the sandy harbours and estuaries. It was not a highly prized food fish. This was likely because its small size and soft flesh did not preserve well. Today the rig remains the fish you have definitely eaten but probably did not know about. It is the quiet, spotted shark that keeps the crab population in check. It supplies the fish and chip shops.