Leopard catshark (Poroderma pantherinum)

Scientific name: Poroderma pantherinum M?ller & Henle, 1838

Leopard catshark (Poroderma pantherinum)

The Leopard catshark (Poroderma pantherinum) is a marine fish of the family Scyliorhinidae. Native range: Southeast Atlantic, Saldanha to central Natal, South Africa.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 0. A stocky shark with long nasal barbels and a highly variable color pattern of black spots, rings and lines in horizontal rows on a grey to whitish background; white below. There are 3 different forms, the typical 'pantherinum' with lines and rosettes of spots, and two extreme forms, 'marleyi' with large dark spots (formerly considered a separate species), and 'salt and pepper' with small, densely packed black spots, intermediates between these extremes are extremely common.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Poroderma pantherinum
Family
Scyliorhinidae (Cat sharks)
Order
Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks)
Class
Elasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)
Maximum length
84.0
Depth range
256 m (840 ft)
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; depth range ? - 256 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Southeast Atlantic: Saldanha to central Natal, South Africa.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Data deficient (DD)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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