| Family: |
Pentanchidae (Deepwater catsharks) |
| Max. size: |
56 cm TL (male/unsexed); 52 cm TL (female) |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 290 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Indian Ocean: Beira, Mozambique to East London, South Africa. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. 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). |
| Biology: |
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). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 25 April 2018 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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