Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks) >
Pentanchidae (Deepwater catsharks)
Etymology: Apristurus: a-, Latin privative, i.e., without; pristis, from pristes (Gr.), sawyer (but here meaning saw); oura (Gr.), tail, referring to absence of saw-toothed crest of enlarged dermal denticles along upper edge of caudal fin as found in the closely related Pristiurus (=Galeus) (See ETYFish); exsanguis: ex (L.), out of; sanguis (L.), blood, i.e., bloodless or lifeless, referring to its characteristic pale coloration and flaccid body (See ETYFish).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 560 - 1200 m (Ref. 40896). Deep-water
Southwest Pacific: New Zealand.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 67.5, range 65 - 70 cm
Max length : 90.8 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 40896)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Spiral valve turns 12-15; monospondylous vertebrae 40-47; nostril diameter always greater than inter-nostril width; posterior tip of pectoral fin anterior to mid-point of paired fin interspace; the distance between axils of dorsal fins about equal to the anal fin base length; area of the first dorsal fin equal to or slightly less than the area of second; anal fin low with a moderately long base. Pale gray to pale brown in color.
Oviparous (Ref. 50449). Minimum depth from Ref. 58018.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk (Ref. 50449).
Sato, K., K. Nakaya and A.L. Stewart, 1999. A new species of the deep-water catshark genus Apristurus from New Zealand waters (Chondrichthyes: Scyliorhinidae). J. Roy. Soc. New Zealand 29(4):325-335. (Ref. 40896)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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