Crying Izak

📖 Overview

Crying Izak (Holohalaelurus melanostigma), first described by Norman, 1939 is a medium-sized fish in the family Pentanchidae (order Carcharhiniformes). Adults typically reach 38.40 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. Recorded depth range: 607 to 658 metres. It occurs in Tropical waters. Diet is predominantly piscivorous, targeting other fish and larger prey. On the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Least Concern.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

This moderately sized shark is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: denticles on dorsal midline slightly enlarged, from a point level to the pectoral origin on the dorsal midline to the first dorsal origin; no enlarged denticles on the dorsal surface of the pectoral fin; no club-shaped papillae on the distal tip of the clasper; buccal papillae in mouth inconspicuous; moderate to high vertebral count, 121 total in the holotype 115 and 119 (mean 116.8) for the paratypes; relatively high tooth counts, 57 total upper teeth in the holotype (54, 59, mean 57.8 for the paratypes), 50 total lower teeth in the holotype (49, 63, mean 55.8 for the paratypes); large brown spots, stripes and blotches on a dull grey-brown background; a distinct tear line marking from the anterior of the orbit to the lateral margin of the snout; white spots absent .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Crying Izak is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 607 - 658 m . Tropical; 4°S - 5°S Indian Ocean: northern Tanzania and southern Kenya.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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