Quagga catshark (Halaelurus quagga)

Scientific name: Halaelurus quagga Alcock, 1899

Quagga catshark (Halaelurus quagga)

The Quagga catshark (Halaelurus quagga) is a marine fish of the family Scyliorhinidae. Native range: Western Indian Ocean, Somalia (Indian Ocean coast) and India (Arabian Sea), offshore on continental slope.

Biology

A small shark with numerous (>20) vertical stripes on the body without dark spots, snout tip knoblike but not prominently upturned. Eyes in adults 12?13 times in distance from snout to first dorsal origin. Anterior nasal flaps sub triangular. Gills dorsolaterally placed and elevated above the mouth level. First dorsal-fin origin about opposite pelvic-fin insertion. Light brown above with pale ventral side, dark brown cross bands on the body.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Halaelurus quagga
Family
Scyliorhinidae (Cat sharks)
Order
Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks)
Class
Elasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)
Maximum length
31.5
Depth range
54–187 m (177–614 ft)
Environment
Marine; demersal; depth range 54 - 187 m
Climate
Deep-water
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Somalia (Indian Ocean coast) and India (Arabian Sea), offshore on continental slope.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Data deficient (DD)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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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