Common Name
Hoary Catshark
Year Described
Springer and Heemstra, 1979
Identification
An elongate, soft-bodied shark with a large snout (8-10% TL). A conspicuous oval-shaped series of pores is present on the ventral snout. Labial furrows large and conspicuous. Upper and lower jaw teeth similar, with a large central cusp and small lateral cusplets. Short-trunked: pectoral base to pelvic fin distance (trunk length) is 7-8.5% TL, or less than twice inter-dorsal distance. There are two dorsal fins: the second being 2-3 time larger than the first. The first dorsal fin is inserted behind the level of the pelvic fin. The distance between the dorsal fins is less than the snout length. The anal fin base is very long (18-22% TL). The pectoral fin is low on the body and is squared off on the margin. The caudal fin is long with a very weak lower lobe. Pelvic fin tips close to anal fin origin. Denticles overlapping with three sharp points, a strong central ridge, a rounded anterior margin, and a dense scaly covering.
Color
Dark gray above, darker below. Fins with dark edges (except pelvic and lower caudal lobe). Minute white spots under denticles.
Size
Maximum known size to 45.5cm.
Habitat
Very poorly known. Deep waters from 687-840m.
Range
So far known only from the Lesser Antilles off Antigua.
References
Castro, J.I. 2011. The Sharks of North America. Oxford University Press, 640 pp.
Compagno, L., M. Dando, and S. Fowler. 2005. Sharks of the World. Princeton University Press, 480 pp.
Other Notes
Known from two specimens.