HomeFish encyclopediaSharks and RaysGround sharksCat sharksVelvet catshark Velvet catshark (Parmaturus lanatus) Scientific name: Parmaturus lanatus S?ret & Last, 2007 The Velvet catshark (Parmaturus lanatus) is a marine fish of the family Scyliorhinidae. Native range: Western Pacific, Indonesia. BiologyThis scyliorhinid catshark has the following set of characters: soft body, with velvety skin, long-cusped, tricuspidate denticles; plain brownish coloration; crests of small denticles (not enlarged) on the upper and lower caudal fin and peduncle margins; teeth are mainly quadricuspidate, about 90 rows in both jaws; first dorsal fin forward of mid-length, pre-first dorsal length 44.4% TL; pelvic fins and vent well in front of mid-length, pre-pelvic length 40.0% TL and pre-vent length 44.2% TL; relatively short snout, prenarial length 4.7% TL; relatively long mouth, its length 5.0% TL; labial furrows rudimentary; head longer than the abdomen, length 21.4% TL, pectoral-pelvic length 16.9% TL; dorsal fins are elevated, with anterior margins of first 9.2% and second 10.3% TL; subterminal caudal lobe developed, subterminal margin length 4.7% TL, terminal margin length 5.3% TL; 46 monospondylous centra; 85 precaudal centra, 134 total centra.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameParmaturus lanatusFamilyScyliorhinidae (Cat sharks)OrderCarcharhiniformes (Ground sharks)ClassElasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)Maximum length36.0Depth range840–855 m (2756–2805 ft)EnvironmentMarine; bathydemersal; depth range 840 - 855 mClimateDeep-waterDistributionWestern Pacific: Indonesia.Conservation status (IUCN)Data deficient (DD)Threat to humansHarmlessResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026