| Family: |
Scyliorhinidae (Cat sharks), subfamily: Scyliorhininae |
| Max. size: |
84 cm TL (male/unsexed); 73 cm TL (female) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 256 m |
| Distribution: |
Southeast Atlantic: Saldanha to central Natal, South Africa. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. A stocky shark with long nasal barbels and a highly variable color pattern of black spots, rings and lines in horizontal rows on a grey to whitish background; white below (Ref. 5578). There are 3 different forms, the typical 'pantherinum' with lines and rosettes of spots, and two extreme forms, 'marleyi' with large dark spots (formerly considered a separate species), and 'salt and pepper' with small, densely packed black spots, intermediates between these extremes are extremely common (Ref. 5578). |
| Biology: |
Found on or near the bottom of warm-temperate waters, from the intertidal zone to 256 m (Ref. 5578). Prefers rocky reefs (Ref. 5578). Nocturnal (Ref. 244). Feeds on small bony fish, crustaceans, octopus and polychaete worms (Ref. 5578). Oviparous (Ref. 50449). Readily kept in captivity (Ref. 244). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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