African spotted catshark (Holohalaelurus punctatus) fish species and information / pictures of African spotted catshark - Holohalaelurus punctatus

African spotted catshark (Holohalaelurus punctatus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Holohalaelurus punctatus

Common Name
African spotted catshark

Biology
Found on the uppermost continental slopes (Ref. 244). Feeds on small fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods (Ref. 5213). The adult males are larger than females, a characteristic unusual among sharks (Ref. 244). Manifests partial sexual segregation. Oviparous (Ref. 50449).

Classification

Classified By

Gilchrist, 1914

Class

Sharks and Rays (Elasmobranchii)

Order

Ground sharks (Carcharhiniformes)

Family

Cat sharks (Scyliorhinidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Indian Ocean

Distribution

Western Indian Ocean: endemic to the subtropical and tropical waters of southwestern Indian Ocean, southern Mozambique, off Natal, South Africa and off Madagascar (Ref. 75585).Status of threat: a common catch in bottom trawls in Natal and southern Mozambique, yet, despite recent biodiversity trawl surveys in that region, not a single specimen has been collected from this area since 1972. ORI data sheets confirm that specimens collected between 1964 and 1972 were apparently abundant, particularly off Mozambique in May 1969, and off Durban in June 1971. The only specimens of this species that have been collected since this date have been those from Madagascar in the late 1980?s and early 1990?s (Ref. 75585).

Range

4°S - 37°S

Environment

Climate

Deep-water

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

220 m

Depth To - meters

440 m

Zone

bathydemersal

Environment

Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 220 - 440 m (Ref. 5510)

Trophic Level

4.17 s.e. 0.61 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

35.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5312 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: of no interest

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (24 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be

Threat To Humans

  Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

  Endangered (EN) (A2abcd+3bcd+4abcd)