| Family: |
Pentanchidae (Deepwater catsharks) |
| Max. size: |
85.5 cm TL (male/unsexed); 79.6 cm TL (female) |
| Environment: |
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 800 - 1503 m |
| Distribution: |
Southwest Pacific: New Zealand and Australia. |
| Diagnosis: |
This species has the following characters: upper labial furrows about equal to, or slightly shorter than the lower ones; length of pre-outer nostril 4.5-6.6% TL; semicircular upper jaw; continuous supraorbital sensory canal; first dorsal fin is slightly smaller than second; anal fin is rounded in shape; narrow dermal denticles, leaf-like and sparse in distribution; enlarged dermal denticles absent along the dorsal margin of caudal fin; 8-11 spiral valves in intestine; size at maturity 65.0-75.0 cm TL; uniformly brown or blackish brown body and fins (Ref. 76941). |
| Biology: |
Claspers of males are short and less than 2.0% TL in specimens less than 52.7 cm TL, which is ranked as maturity stage 1 (immature); 73.3-76.5 cm TL have long but soft claspers (3.9-4.2% TL, maturity stage 2; greater than 78 cm TL have long, well developed and hardened
claspers (3.6-5.6% TL, maturity stage 3). Immature males are less than 52.7 cm TL and for females 37.4 cm TL (maturity stage 1); adolescent in males of 73.3-76.5 cm TL and females of 57.8-65.6 cm TL are (maturity stage 2); and adult in males with greater than 78 cm TL and females greater than 67.8 cm TL (maturity stage 3) (Ref. 76941). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 June 2015 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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