| Diagnosis: |
A very small species of catshark with the following characters: head in dorsoventral view narrowly parabolic, short 17.2-19.6% TL; small eye, its length 3.4-3.9% TL, 1.73-2.03 in snout, dorsolaterally located; well developed labial furrows , extending well beyond corners of mouth, lower furrow is slightly longer than the upper one; first dorsal fin is slightly smaller than the second one; small pelvic fins, slender, length 8.8-11.3% TL; posterior portion strongly directed posterodorsally (forming a small lobe, enveloping partly the proximo-lateral margin of clasper); strongly convex inner margin, forming a partial apron and connected to clasper dorsomedially near its base, soft tissue connecting insertions of pelvic fins is weak, not forming a prominent apron overlying ventral surface of tail; a much longer anal-fin base than second dorsal fin, base 9.9-10.9% TL, 2.4-6.0 times anal-caudal space; long caudal peduncle, anal-caudal space 1.6-4.2% TL; crest of enlarged denticles on anterior dorsal caudal-fin margin extending from about over origin of ventral caudal-fin lobe to almost mid-length of dorsal caudal-fin margin; crest of enlarged denticles originating at mid-point of caudal peduncle, extending to elevated part of ventral lobe; size at maturity for at about 38.0 cm TL; preserved color pale brown dorsally, with dark saddles and bars, lighter ventrally; pre-dorsally with about 4 larger saddles; saddles present below and between dorsal fins and extending onto caudal, these are rarely larger than eye diameter; larger saddles are pale edged, separated by narrower, less distinct bars; saddles rarely extending below the lateral midline; 35-38 monospondylous vertebrae; 85-93 precaudal; 140-149 in total (Ref. 76950). |