Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks) >
Pentanchidae (Deepwater catsharks)
Etymology: Halaelurus: halos (Gr.), sea; ailouros (Gr.), cat, probably an allusion to the vernacular “catshark,” so named for its cat-like eyes. (See ETYFish); lineatus: Latin for lined, referring to its 13 pairs of narrow dark-brown stripes. (See ETYFish).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 0 - 290 m (Ref. 5510). Subtropical; 19°S - 31°S
Western Indian Ocean: Beira, Mozambique to East London, South Africa.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 56.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 244); 52.0 cm TL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. A catshark with an upturned knob on the snout, a narrow head, and numerous small dark spots on the body (Ref. 5578). Pale brown with numerous pairs of narrow, vertical, dark brown stripes outlining obscure dusky saddles (Ref. 5578), cream below (Ref. 5510).
Found on the continental shelf and uppermost slope, on soft bottoms, from close inshore to 290 m (Ref. 5578). Feeds on small crustaceans, bony fish, and cephalopods (Ref. 5578). Although commonly caught by shore anglers, it is not generally considered a game fish (Ref. 12484).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Probably lays eggs, with up to 16 egg-cases per female; eggs retained until embryos reach advanced stage of development (Ref. 5578).
Compagno, L.J.V., 1984. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 2 - Carcharhiniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(4/2):251-655. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 244)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 18.6 - 25.3, mean 22.7 °C (based on 22 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5078 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00269 (0.00144 - 0.00502), b=3.05 (2.88 - 3.22), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 4.5 ±0.60 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be <100).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (42 of 100).
