African spotted catshark
📖 Overview
Found on the uppermost continental slopes . Feeds on small fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods . The adult males are larger than females, a characteristic unusual among sharks . Manifests partial sexual segregation. Oviparous .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. A broad-headed, dwarf catshark with small dark brown spots closely set on a yellow-brown or orange-brown background; small black pores on underside of head and body; no labial furrows .: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for African spotted catshark is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for African spotted catshark is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Oviparous, with one egg-case laid per oviduct at a time. Embryos feed solely on yolk . Partial sexual segregation is manifested by greater number of males than females off Natal but not off southern Mozambique.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 220 - 440 m . Deep-water; 4°S - 37°S South Africa and off Madagascar (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
small fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | African spotted catshark · White-spotted Izak · Whitespotted Izak |
| 🌍CES | máčka tečkovaná |
| 🇩🇪German | Afrikanischer Gepunkteter Katzenhai |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Gattuccio Izak macchiato di bianco |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Африканская пятнистая акула |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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