Author: Goode and Bean, 1896
Field Marks:
A moderate-sized, fairly slender catshark with rows of small black spots that outline inconspicuous saddle and flank markings but with few or no spots inside the saddles, fairly large and slender, small anterior nasal flaps that do not reach mouth, no nasoral grooves, labial furrows on lower jaw only, second dorsal fin much smaller than first.
Diagnostic Features:
Head and body relatively deep, slender and narrow; greatest width of head less than 2/ 3 of head length; no nasoral grooves; anterior nasal flaps not expanded and falling short of mouth. First dorsal origin slightly behind pelvic insertions; second dorsal origin over last half of pelvic bases; interdorsal space greater than anal base. Denticles fairly small, skin not very rough. Colour pattern of numerous small black spots about size of eye pupil or more, forming rectilinear outlines to indistinct grey saddles and flank markings that hardly contrast with the ground colour; spots sometimes forming reticulating rows, but with few.or none inside saddle areas; sometimes a few white spots on dorsolateral surface. Size fairly small, to at least 54 cm.
Geographical Distribution:
Western North Atlantic: Caribbean Slope off Barbados, Lesser Antilles, Hispanola, Jamaica, and the continental slope from Honduras to Colombia.
Habitat and Biology:
A little-known tropical deepwater catshark of the continental and insular slopes, on or near bottom, at 329 to 676 m depth. Presumably oviparous.
Size:
Maximum at least 54 cm (adult male).
Interest to Fisheries:
None at present.
Type material:
Holotype: Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard, MCZ 1335, 150 mm immature male. Type Locality: Off Barbados, 366 m depth, western North Atlantic. |
