Common Name
Ghost Catshark
Year Described
Springer, 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 teeth slightly larger than lower, with a large central cusp and small lateral cusplets (cusplets more pronounced on upper jaw). Short-trunked: pectoral base to pelvic fin distance less than twice inter-dorsal distance. There are two dorsal fins: the second being slightly larger than the first and inserted over the middle of the anal base. The first dorsal fin is inserted over the posterior half of the pelvic fin. The distance between the dorsal fins is less than the snout length. The anal fin base is relatively short (around snout length). The pectoral fin is low on the body and is rounded on the margin. The caudal fin is long with a very weak lower lobe. Pelvic fin tips are noticeably separated from anal fin origin. Denticles small and widely separated, with three sharp points, a strong central ridge, a rounded anterior margin, and a dense scaly covering.
Color
Variable in color from uniformly pale tan to dark chocolate brown. Dorsal fins with dark edges.
Size
Maximum size to 85cm.
Habitat
Deep waters from 600-1,300m.
Range
Northwestern Atlantic: off New England and offshore seamounts (Bear)
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.