Pseudotriakis microdon de Brito Capello, 1868
False catshark
Pseudotriakis microdon
photo by The Fish Database of Taiwan

Family:  Pseudotriakidae (False catsharks)
Max. size:  269 cm TL (male/unsexed); 295 cm TL (female)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 173 - 1890 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: New York and New Jersey, USA. Reported from Cuba (Ref. 26340); including Brazil (Ref. 53443). Northeast Atlantic: Atlantic slope off Iceland, France, Portugal, Madeira, Azores, Senegal, and Cape Verde. Indian Ocean: Aldabra Island group and Western Australia (Ref. 13565). Pacific Ocean: Japan, Taiwan, New Zealand, and Hawaii (Ref. 13565).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. Lower lobe of caudal fin hardly developed, its upper edge not rippled and a subterminal notch present (Ref. 13565). Uniformly dark brownish-grey, darker on posterior edges of pelvic, dorsal, anal and caudal fins (Ref. 13565).
Biology:  Found on the continental and insular slopes, occasionally wandering onto continental shelves (Ref. 13565). Inactive and sluggish (Ref. 13565). Probably eats bony fishes, elasmobranchs and invertebrates (Ref. 244). Ovoviviparous, embryos feeding on yolk sac and other ova produced by the mother, uterine milk is consumed additionally (Ref. 50449). Pups number 2 to 4 in a litter (Ref. 244), size at birth between 70 (Ref. 244) and 140 cm TL (Ref. 13565). Caught very rarely by deepwater demersal longline fisheries in some areas. Utilized for its fins (limited value), meat and cartilage (Ref.58048).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 May 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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