Bach's catshark

📖 Overview

The females of this species based on total length are mature at 39.2 cm and immature at 36.1 cm, while males are mature at 40.0 cm and immature at 37.6 cm . The size at hatching based on the three post-embryonic specimens is estimated at around 12.0 cm TL .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

This species is distinguished by the following characters: body firm and stout (slender in juveniles); snout long, preorbital length 4.7-7.6% TL and has a broad, bell-shaped in dorsoventral view with distinct lateral indention; pre-outer nostril length 1.1-1.9 times internarial space; preorbital snout length 0.7-1.0 times interorbital space; preoral snout length 1.0-1.9 times in mouth width; eye length 9.0-13.0 times in predorsal distance, 3.6-5.4 times in head length and 1.4-4.1 times eye height; head length 1.8-2.7 times width at level of maximum outer extent of anterior nostrils; head width at level of maximum outer extent of anterior nostrils 1.1-1.5 times width at level of lateral indention of head, 1.1-1.8 times preorbital length, and 7.2-10.0% TL; its tongue and roof of mouth densely set with oral papillae of distinct size, which are partially very large and conglomerated from several single papillae; pelvic anterior margin 1.1-2.1 times in pectoral-fin anterior margin; first dorsal-fin base 1.0-1.8 times in interdorsal space; length of second dorsal-fin inner margin 0.5-1.9 times in second dorsal-fin height; length of second dorsal-fin base 6.7-9.7% TL; anal-fin base 0.7-1.3 times interdorsal space; upper jaw with 70-84 and lower jaw with 60-76 rows of small tri- to pentacuspidate teeth with outer surface of crown furrowed by strong longitudinal ridges and structured by reticulations in basal areas; monospondylous trunk vertebrae centra 38-43, diplospondylous precaudal centra 33-43, total centra 124-132; dermal denticle morphology highly diverse in different body areas and post-embryonic specimens with very characteristic double row each of about 20 distinctly enlarged, blunt, spatulate, cross-based dermal denticles along dorsal trunk; claspers rather long and very thick, inner margin length 10.6-11.3% TL, base width 2.3-3.1% TL; no clasper hooks, cover rhipidion and pseudosiphon very large, envelope elongated. Colouration: body and fins plain beige to light grayish-brown, slightly brighter on ventral side Cross section: flattened.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Bach's catshark is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; pelagic-oceanic; depth range 910 - 1365 m . Tropical; 32°S - 34°S, 43°E - 46°E Indian Ocean: Madagascar Ridge at Walters Shoals.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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