Vivaldi's catshark

📖 Overview

Vivaldi's catshark (Bythaelurus vivaldii) is a ray-finned fish of the family Scyliorhinidae. It inhabits marine (saltwater) waters in pelagic environments. This species can reach a maximum total length of 32.5 cm. With a trophic level of 4.1, it is a mid-level predator. It is assessed as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

This species is distinguished by the following characters: body firm and stout (of the presumably adult holotype and slender in supposedly juvenile paratype); snout is long (preorbital length 6.1-6.6% TL) and broad, bell-shaped in dorsoventral view with a distinct lateral indention; the pre-outer nostril length is subequal to internarial space; preorbital snout length is subequal to interorbital space; preoral snout length 1.4–1.8 times in mouth width; eye length 13.9-15.0 times in predorsal distance, 6.8-6.9 times in head length and 1.6-2.3 times eye height; head length 2.6-2.8 times width at level of maximum outer extent of anterior nostrils; head width at the level of maximum outer extent of anterior nostrils, 1.2 times width at level of lateral indention of head, 1.3–1.4 times preorbital length, and 8.5–8.6% TL; the roof of the mouth is loosely set with rather small, knob-like to elongated oral papillae, oral papillae on tongue hardly detectable; pelvic-fin anterior margin 2.0-2.1 times in pectoral-fin anterior margin; first dorsal-fin base 2.2-2.3 times in interdorsal space; length of second dorsal-fin inner margin 1.3-2.3 times in second dorsal-fin height; second dorsal-fin base length 5.3% TL; anal-fin base 0.7-0.8 times interdorsal space; upper jaw with 68-75 and lower jaw with 64 rows of small tri- to pentacuspidate teeth with outer surface of crown furrowed by strong longitudinal ridges from base of cusps to tip and strongly structured by reticulations from basal areas to well into cusps; monospondylous trunk vertebrae centra 38, diplospondylous precaudal centra 43-44, total centra about 135-140; dermal denticles leaf-like to teardrop-shaped on snout and tricuspidate on trunk and tail; reported to have 8–9 dark, broad but inconspicuous transverse bars on the back (preserved coloration plain beige with scattered remains of dark brown); . : other (see remarks); Cross section: flattened.

🌀 Behaviour

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

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; pelagic-oceanic; depth range ? - 628 m . Tropical Indian Ocean: Off Somalia.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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