Dichichthys melanobranchus Chan, 1966
Blackgill catshark
Dichichthys melanobranchus
photo by FAO

Family:  Dichichthyidae ()
Max. size:  85 cm TL (female)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 540 - 810 m
Distribution:  Northwest Pacific: known from only 3 specimens taken in the South China Sea. Collected less than a degree north of the northwestern boundary of the Western Central Pacific (Ref. 11146).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. Light brown with distal parts and anterior margins of fins, snout, nostrils, and gills blackish brown in young, possibly uniform blackish brown in adults (Ref. 11146).
Biology:  A poorly known deep-water bottom-dwelling catshark found on mud bottoms of the upper continental slopes (Ref. 11146). Oviparous (Ref. 50449).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 27 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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