Scyliorhinus meadi
| Blotched catshark | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Subdivision: | Selachimorpha |
| Order: | Carcharhiniformes |
| Family: | Scyliorhinidae |
| Genus: | Scyliorhinus |
| Species: | S. meadi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Scyliorhinus meadi S. Springer, 1966
| |
| |
| Range of the blotched catshark | |
Scyliorhinus meadi, the blotched catshark, is a little-known species of
oviparous. This species is not dangerous to humans and has no commercial significance
.
Taxonomy
The blotched catshark was first scientifically described in 1966 by American
ichthyologist Stewart Springer, based on a 25 cm (9.8 in) long immature male caught off Cape Canaveral, Florida. He named it after Giles W. Mead, who brought the original specimen to his attention.[2] From 1970 to 1979, this species was regarded as a subspecies of the chain catshark (S. retifer).[3]
Distribution and habitat
The blotched catshark has been recorded from
Lophelia pertusa.[4]
Description
All blotched catshark specimens collected thus far have been immature, the largest male measuring 49 cm (19 in) in length and the largest female 43 cm (17 in) in length.nares are small and do not reach the mouth. The teeth in the upper jaw are exposed when the mouth is closed, and there are furrows at the corners of the lower jaw.[3]
The first
dermal denticles are small and flattened. The coloration consists of a plain dark background with 7–8 darker, more or less prominent saddles.[3] Like the related chain catshark, the blotched catshark exhibits fluorescence, with small spots on its back that glow yellow under a blue light.[5]
Biology and ecology
The blotched catshark preys on
bony fishes of surprisingly large size.[6] Its internal anatomy suggests that it lays encapsulated eggs like the other members of its family, though these egg cases have not been observed. The sizes of the known immature specimens suggest that the adults are relatively large.[1]
Human interactions
Harmless to humans and rarely caught by
fisheries, the blotched catshark is of no economic importance. It has been assessed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).[1][7]
See also
- Asymbolus funebris, also known as blotched catshark
References
- ^ . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ Springer, S. (1966). "A review of western Atlantic cat sharks, Scyliorhinidae, with descriptions of a new genus and five new species". Fishery Bulletin. 65: 581–624.
- ^ ISBN 92-5-101384-5.
- ^ Ross, S.W., K.J. Sulak and M.S. Nizinski (2003). "Deep Coral Bank Fishes on the Southeastern United States Slope: Is There a Deep Water Primary Reef Ichthyofauna?" Eos Transactions AGU 84 (52): Ocean Sciences Meeting Supplement, Abstract OS52J-07.
- ^ Barbarite, G. (July 22, 2009). Bioluminescence 2009: July 22 Log. NOAA Ocean Explorer. Retrieved on July 29, 2009.
- ^ Parsons, G.R. (1985). "Notes on the life history of the catshark, Scyliorhinus meadi". Fishery Bulletin. 83 (4): 695–696.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2009). "Scyliorhinus meadi" in FishBase. July 2009 version.