Brown shyshark
Brown shyshark | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Chondrichthyes |
Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
Subdivision: | Selachimorpha |
Order: | Carcharhiniformes |
Family: | Scyliorhinidae |
Genus: | Haploblepharus |
Species: | H. fuscus
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Binomial name | |
Haploblepharus fuscus J. L. B. Smith , 1950 | |
Range of the brown shyshark[1] |
The brown shyshark or plain happy (Haploblepharus fuscus) is a
Taxonomy and phylogeny
The brown shyshark was described by South African
Description
A small species reaching a maximum known length of 73 cm (29 in), the dark shyshark has a stocky body and a short, broad head. The snout is blunt and dorsally flattened. The eyes are large and oval-shaped, with a rudimentary nictitating membrane (protective third eyelid) and a strong ridge underneath. The nostrils are very large, and are flanked by greatly expanded, triangular flaps of skin that reach the mouth. These nasal flaps cover a pair of deep grooves that connect the nasal excurrent (outflow) openings and the mouth. There are furrows at the corners of the mouth on both jaws. The teeth have a central cusp and a pair of smaller cusplets on the sides. The five pairs of gill slits are positioned on the upper sides of the body.[4]
The first
Distribution and habitat
The brown shyshark has a restricted distribution along the coast of South Africa, from the
Biology and ecology
The brown shyshark is a sedentary,
Human interactions
The brown shyshark is harmless to humans and not targeted by any commercial fisheries due to its small size, though it may be caught as bycatch. It is regarded as a minor pest species by recreational anglers and usually discarded or killed when hooked. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed this species as Vulnerable. Although it is locally abundant, heavy fishing occurs throughout its small range and an increase in fishery activities or pollution could potentially affect the entire population.[6] The brown shyshark adapts readily to captivity.[9]
References
- ^ . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- .
- PMID 16293425.
- ^ ISBN 92-5-101384-5.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-691-12072-0.
- ^ ISBN 2-8317-0700-5.
- .
- ^ Smith, C. & C. Griffiths (1997). "Shark and skate egg-cases cast up on two South African beaches and their rates of hatching success or causes of death". South African Journal of Zoology. 32: 112–117.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2009). "Haploblepharus fuscus" in FishBase. August 2009 version.