Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks) >
Pentanchidae (Deepwater catsharks)
Etymology: Pentanchus: penta, from pente (Gr.), five; -anchus, perhaps an abridgement of branchos (Gr.), gill, referring to five pairs of branchial apertures (gill slits), unique among the group of sharks (hexanchoid) in which the authors erroneously believed this shark belonged (See ETYFish); profundicolus: profundus (L.), deep; -colus (L.), dwelling in, referring to deepwater habitat (holotype taken at 1070 m) (See ETYFish).
More on authors: Smith & Radcliffe.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 673 - 1069 m (Ref. 47206). Deep-water; 12°N - 8°N
Western Central Pacific: known from the holotype and only specimen taken from the Mindanao Sea, Philippines. Upon comparing, the holotypes of Apristurus herklotsi and this species are conspecific, thus, suggesting that Pentanchus is a senior synonym of Apristurus. But due to lack of verifiable specimens, herklotsi is tentatively retained in Apristurus.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 51.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 244)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Only shark with 5 pairs of gill slits and one dorsal fin (Ref. 244). Head broadly flattened and spatulate, snout elongated and usually longer than mouth width. Labial furrows very long, uppers reaching upper symphysis (Ref. 244). No color pattern, uniformly dark brown (Ref. 244). Caudal fin with a distinct subterminal notch.
A poorly known deep-water bottom-dwelling shark inhabiting insular slopes (Ref. 11146). Possibly oviparous (Ref. 50449).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Nakaya, K. and B. Séret, 2000. Re-description and taxonomy of Pentachus profundicolus Smith & Radcliffe, based on a second specimen from the Philippines (Chondrichthyes, Carcharhiniformes, Scyliorhinidae). Ichthyol. Res. 47(4):373-378. (Ref. 47206)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 1.0000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00355 (0.00175 - 0.00721), b=3.08 (2.90 - 3.26), 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 (Fec assumed to be <100).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (40 of 100).
