Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks) >
Pentanchidae (Deepwater catsharks)
Etymology: Holohalaelurus: holos (Gr.), whole or entire, i.e., being a form of Halaeurus without any labial folds or grooves in the mouth. (See ETYFish); melanostigma: melanos (Gr.), black; stigma (Gr.), mark or spot, probably referring to dark-colored spots on dorsal surface. (See ETYFish).
More on author: Norman.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 607 - 658 m (Ref. 75585). Tropical; 4°S - 5°S (Ref. 75585)
Western Indian Ocean: northern Tanzania and southern Kenya.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - 38.4 cm
Max length : 38.4 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 75585)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
This moderately sized shark is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: denticles on dorsal midline slightly enlarged, from a point level to the pectoral origin on the dorsal midline to the first dorsal origin; no enlarged denticles on the dorsal surface of the pectoral fin; no club-shaped papillae on the distal tip of the clasper; buccal papillae in mouth inconspicuous; moderate to high vertebral count, 121 total in the holotype 115 and 119 (mean 116.8) for the paratypes; relatively high tooth counts, 57 total upper teeth in the holotype (54, 59, mean 57.8 for the paratypes), 50 total lower teeth in the holotype (49, 63, mean 55.8 for the paratypes); large brown spots, stripes and blotches on a dull grey-brown background; a distinct tear line marking from the anterior of the orbit to the lateral margin of the snout; white spots absent (Ref. 75585).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Human, B.A., 2006. A taxonomic revision of the catshark genus Holohalaelurus Fowler 1934 (Chondrichthyes: Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae), with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 1315:1-56. (Ref. 75585)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5312 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00355 (0.00176 - 0.00714), b=3.09 (2.91 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 4.1 ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary low fecundity).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (28 of 100).
