Order

Carcharhiniformes

  Class

Elasmobranchii

No. in FishBase

Genera : 11 | Species : 112 Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes

  Environment

Fresh : No | Brackish : No | Marine : Yes

  Division

Marine

  Aquarium

  First Fossil Record

     

  Remark

Previously in Scyliorhinidae. Identification Mostly small (less than 80cm long; some may mature at about 30cm, a few reach about 90cm); elongated body; two small, spineless dorsal fins (first dorsal base over or behind pelvic bases), and an anal fin. Externally, they are similar to the catsharks (Scyliorhinidae) but are separated from them by the structure of the cranium (skull, or brain case). The deepsea catsharks (Pentanchidae) do not have an internal ‘crest’ over the orbits of their eyes, whereas the catsharks (Scyliorhinidae) do. The crest, if present, can usually be felt by running your fingers over the eye orbits. Unfortunately, the members of some genera of deepsea catsharks (including the largest genus, demon catsharks, Apristurus) are very difficult to tell apart, even for experts. See below. Biology Mostly oviparous (egg-laying) species, but a few are viviparous and give birth to live young. Eggcases are thick and may or may not have corner tendrils, which are used to attach to the seafloor or invertebrate structures, such as gorgonian corals. Hatching may take up to two or three years, depending on the species. Although no deepsea catsharks are known to make long-distance migrations, several species move vertically hundreds of metres off the bottom into midwater to feed. The newborns of some species inhabit midwater early in life. The deepsea catsharks feed on small bony fishes, cephalopods, crustaceans, and other invertebrates (Ref. 125614)

  Etymology

  Reproductive guild

  Typical activity level

  Main Ref.

Ebert, D.A., S. Fowler and M. Dando 2021

  Coordinator

  Deep Fin Classification