Smalleye catshark (Apristurus microps)

Scientific name: Apristurus microps Gilchrist, 1922

The Smalleye catshark (Apristurus microps) is a marine fish of the family Scyliorhinidae. Native range: Southeast Atlantic, off the Orange River to Cape Agulhas, South Africa. Elsewhere known from the North Atlantic.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 0. A stout, plain catshark with small eyes, a long thick and broad snout, and long labial furrows; mouth projecting well in front of eyes; pectoral fins very short. Uniformly black or dark to medium brown or grey; no markings.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Apristurus microps
Family: Scyliorhinidae (Cat sharks)
Order: Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks)
Class: Elasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)
Maximum length: 61.0
Depth range: 1000–2200 m (3281–7218 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 1000 - 2200 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: Southeast Atlantic: off the Orange River to Cape Agulhas, South Africa. Elsewhere known from the North Atlantic.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: of no interest
Resilience: Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 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.

Last updated 27 September 2026