Common Name
Longfin Marbled Catshark
Year Described
Springer, 1966
Identification
An elongate shark with a large head tapering posteriorly to a narrow caudal fin. Pelvic origin separated from pectoral base by a distance less than inter-dorsal distance. Anal fin base long (>13% TL) and low. Pectoral fin broadly rounded. Caudal fin with very weak lower lobe. Enlarged dermal denticles on dorsal margin of tail. Subcaudal crest absent.
Color
Pale brown basally with two rows of dark spots and blotches on body. One runs along the dorsum from the rear head to the tail and the other runs from behind the eye to above the anterior pelvic fin. Markings are smaller and less bold than related species. Dorsal fins dark basally with a pale outer half. Other fins with indistinct darker markings. Belly pale.
Size
Maximum size to 35cm TL.
Habitat
Upper continental slope from 439-548m.
Range
Southwestern Caribbean: off Panama and Colombia.
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.
Springer, S. 1979. A revision of the catsharks, family Scyliorhinidae. NOAA Technical Report NMFS Circular No. 422: 1–15.
Other Notes
Described as a subspecies of G. arae from southwestern Caribbean localities. It’s status as a full species is not certain.