Yellowspotted catshark
📖 Overview
A common inshore to offshore catshark. Prefers to feed on small bony fishes and crustaceans, also cephalopods . Oviparous .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Bright yellow or golden spots on a dark grey body with irregular blotches and saddles , cream below ; 2nd dorsal much smaller than 1st . Small anterior nasal flaps that do not reach mouth, no nasoral grooves .: elongated; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Yellowspotted catshark is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Oviparous, with a single egg per oviduct at a time . Oviparous, paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk . Size upon hatching below 31 cm (size of young with umbilical scars) .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; demersal; depth range 26 - 495 m . Subtropical; 0°S - 37°S, 0°W - 29°E Southeast Atlantic: Lüderitz, Namibia to central Natal, South Africa.
🌿 Ecology
small bony fishes and crustaceans, also cephalopods (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Dogfish · Lazy Shark · Spotted Lazyshark · White-spotted Dogfish · Yellow-spotted catshark · yellowspotted catshark |
| 🌍AFR | Geelspikkel-kathaai |
| 🌍CES | máčka kapská |
| 🇩🇪German | Gelbgefleckter Katzenhai |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | kapinpunahai |
| 🇫🇷French | Roussette À Taches Jaunes |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Gattuccio dalle macchie gialle |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Tubarão-gato-de-pintas-amarelas |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Жёлтопятнистая кошачья акула · Южноафриканская кошачья акула |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Alitán De Manchas Amarillas |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 11 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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