African dwarf sawshark

📖 Overview

This species is a poorly known inhabitant of the upper continental slope in tropical waters found at depths of 286-500 m . Stomach contents include an unidentified organic material, partially digested shrimplike crustaceans, and small decapod shrimps; no fish or cephalopod remains were found . Larger individuals had small puncture marks and elongated parallel cuts on their backs and tails suggestive of combat injuries from the rostra of other sawsharks . Unknown litter size; it may be caught and discarded as bycatch by offshore shrimp trawlers and other deepwater fisheries operations off Mozambique .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Vertebrae: 132 - 139. Diagnosis: A small five-gilled sawshark distinguished from its congeners by having the following characteristics: the presence of two rows of enlarged pre-barbel pits on the rostral ventral surface; rostral barbels closer to mouth than snout tip; base of large rostral teeth with ridges; eyes very large, oval-shaped, emerald green in life; first dorsal fin broadly triangular, with rear tip extending behind pelvic fin midbases; lateral trunk denticles imbricated; colouration in life brownish gray laterally, becoming lighter ventrally; fin margins lighter along posterior edges; dorsal rostrum surface with two distinct longitudinal dark stripes; lateral rostral teeth dark-edged . : elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for African dwarf sawshark is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; pelagic-oceanic; depth range 286 - 570 m . Tropical central and southern Mozambique (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

👥 Community & Contribute