Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks) >
Pentanchidae (Deepwater catsharks)
Etymology: Halaelurus: halos (Gr.), sea; ailouros (Gr.), cat, probably an allusion to the vernacular “catshark,” so named for its cat-like eyes (See ETYFish); boesemani: In honor of Marinus Boeseman (1916-2006), curator of fishes at the Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie (Leiden, Netherlands), for his “important” contributions to ichthyology (See ETYFish).
Eponymy: Dr Marinus Boeseman (1916–2006) was a Dutch ichthyologist, working in the Department of Zoology, Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Histoire, Leiden, becoming Curator of Fishes (1947–1981). [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 37 - 250 m (Ref. 6871). Deep-water; 21°N - 26°S
Western Indian Ocean: Somalia, Gulf of Aden and Kenya.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?, range 35 - ? cm
Max length : 48.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 244); 47.0 cm TL (female)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Dark spots small and very numerous, usually not larger than spiracles, over or between weak saddles or bars (Ref. 11146).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
A little-known but wide-ranging bottom-dwelling shark found on continental and insular shelves (Ref. 11146). Probably caught with bottom trawls (Ref. 30573). Live-bearing (Ref. 50449).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Up to 4 egg capsules may be found in an oviduct but it is uncertain whether these hatch inside the oviduct or if the eggs are laid (Ref. 244). Live-bearing (Ref. 50449).
Compagno, L.J.V., 1984. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 2 - Carcharhiniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(4/2):251-655. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 244)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
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