Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks) >
Proscylliidae (Finback catsharks)
Etymology: Ctenacis: From ktenos (Gr.), comb; akis (Gr.), point, referring to its comb-like posterior teeth (See ETYFish); fehlmanni: In honor of ichthyologist-herpetologist Herman Adair Fehlmann (1917-2005), Smithsonian Oceanographic Sorting Center, for “setting high standards for field treatment of shark specimens collected for study” (See ETYFish).
Eponymy: Dr Herman Adair Fehlmann (1917–2005) of George Vanderbilt Foundation, Bangkok, and the Smithsonian was primarily an ichthyologist but also an herpetologist. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 70 - 170 m (Ref. 10004). Tropical; 11°N - 9°N
Western Indian Ocean: off Somalia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 52.0 cm TL (female)
Inhabits the outer continental shelf (Ref. 30573). Known only from the holotype. The presence of a very thin-walled, large egg-case in each uterus of the holotype suggests that the species may be ovoviviparous, and presumably have had two young in a litter (Ref. 244). Experts classify this species as oviparous (Ref. 50449). Its large mouth, small teeth, and large pharynx with gillraker papillae might allow it to feed on very small invertebrates, according to S. Springer.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk (Ref. 50449).
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: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 1.0078 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00288 (0.00112 - 0.00741), b=3.15 (2.92 - 3.38), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.5 ±0.37 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Fec=2).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (41 of 100).
