Common Name
Springer's Catshark
Year Described
Konstantinou and Cozzi, 1998
Identification
A very elongate shark with a large head tapering posteriorly to a narrow caudal fin. Pelvic origin separated from pectoral base by a distance almost equal to inter-dorsal distance. Anal fin base short (<14% TL). Pectoral fin broadly rounded. Caudal fin with very weak lower lobe. Enlarged dermal denticles on dorsal margin of tail. Subcaudal crest present.
Color
Body brown basally with a bold pattern consisting of a thick dark stripe running from the head to the first dorsal origin and at least three dark blotches on the rear of the body (one under each dorsal fin and one in between). Dark markings outlined in white. Two dark bands on the upper caudal fin. another thinner dark stripe runs through eye and on side. Dorsal fins dark with white borders. Other fins with indistinct markings. Belly pale.
Size
Maximum size to 44cm TL.
Habitat
Upper continental slopes from 457-699m.
Range
Caribbean Sea: scattered insular localities from the Bahamas to the Lesser Antilles.
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.
Konstantinou, H. and J.R. Cozzi. 1998. “Galeus springeri, a new species of sawtail catshark from the Caribbean Sea (Chondrichthys, Scyliorhinidae)”. Copeia 1998 (1): 151–158.
Konstantinou, H., J.D. McEachran, and J.B. Woolley. 2000. “The systematics and reproductive biology of the Galeus arae subspecific complex (Chondrichthyes, Scyliorhinidae)”. Environmental Biology of Fishes 57: 117–129.