| Family: |
Pentanchidae (Deepwater catsharks) |
| Max. size: |
45 cm TL (male/unsexed); 47 cm TL (female) |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 172 m |
| Distribution: |
Southeast Atlantic: Cape Agulhas to East London in South Africa. Until recently, two species were confused under this name, the present one and the recently described Halaelurus lineatus (Ref. 244). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. A catshark with a prominent upturned knob on the snout, a broad head, and with no spots on the body (Ref. 5578). Yellow-brown in color, with pairs of broad, vertical, dark brown stripes outlining dusky saddles (Ref. 5578), cream ventrally (Ref. 5510). |
| Biology: |
Found on the continental shelf, from close inshore to deeper water (Ref. 244). Feeds mainly on small bony fishes and crustaceans, also cephalopods and small elasmobranchs (Ref. 244). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 01 August 2019 (A2bcd) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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