Catshark
Catsharks Temporal range: Upper Jurassic – Present[1] PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N | |
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Whitesaddled catshark, Scyliorhinus hesperius | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Chondrichthyes |
Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
Subdivision: | Selachimorpha |
Order: | Carcharhiniformes |
Family: | Scyliorhinidae T. N. Gill, 1862 |
Catsharks are ground sharks of the family Scyliorhinidae. They are the largest family of sharks with around 160 species placed in 17 genera.[2] Although they are generally known as catsharks, some species can also be called dogfish due to previous naming.[3] However, a dogfish may generally be distinguished from a catshark as catsharks lay eggs while dogfish have live young.[3] Like most bottom feeders, catsharks feed on benthic invertebrates and smaller fish. They are not harmful to humans.[3] The family is paraphyletic, containing several distinct lineages that do not form a monophyletic group.[4]
Genera
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Scyliorhinus_canicula.jpg/220px-Scyliorhinus_canicula.jpg)
The family includes 17 genera and over 150 species,[1] making it the largest family of sharks.[5]
- Akheilos White, Fahmi & Weigmann, 2019
- Apristurus Garman, 1913
- Asymbolus Whitley, 1939
- Atelomycterus Garman, 1913
- Aulohalaelurus Fowler, 1934
- Bythaelurus Compagno, 1988
- Cephaloscyllium T. N. Gill, 1862
- Cephalurus Bigelow and Schroeder, 1941
- Figaro Whitley, 1928
- Galeus Rafinesque, 1810
- Halaelurus T. N. Gill, 1862
- Haploblepharus Garman, 1913
- Holohalaelurus Fowler, 1934
- Parmaturus Garman, 1906
- Pentanchus H. M. Smith and Radcliffe in Smith, 1912
- Poroderma A. Smith, 1838
- Schroederichthys A. Smith, 1838
- Scyliorhinus Blainville, 1816
Cladogram
- Scyliorhinidae
- Scyliorhininae
- Galeinae
- Pentanchini
- Galeini
- Galeina
- Halelaelurina
- Atelomycterininae
- Schroedericthyinae
Anatomy and appearance
Catsharks may be distinguished by their elongated, cat-like eyes and two small dorsal fins set far back. Most species are fairly small, growing no longer than 80 cm (31 in); a few, such as the nursehound (Scyliorhinus stellaris) can reach 1.6 m (5.2 ft) in length. Most of the species have a patterned appearance, ranging from stripes to patches to spots.
Characteristics of genus Apristurus are mostly dark bodies, and having a long anal fin that ends in front of where the lower caudal fin begins. The snouts of the species of Apristurus are flat. They also present upper and lower labial furrows.
The sonic hedgehog dentition expression is first found as a bilateral symmetrical pattern and is found in certain areas of the embryonic jaw.[6] Sonic hedgehog (a secreted protein that, in humans, is encoded by the SHH gene) is involved in the growth and patterning of different organs.[7] Every 18–38 days the teeth are replaced as is a common characteristic of the developmental process of sharks.
The "swell sharks" of the genus Cephaloscyllium have the curious ability to fill their stomachs with water or air when threatened, increasing their girth by a factor of one to three.
Some catsharks, such as the chain catshark are biofluorescent.[8][9][10]
Distribution
Catsharks are found around seabeds in temperate and tropical seas worldwide, ranging from very shallow intertidal waters to depths of 2,000 m (6,600 ft) or more, such as the members of genus Apristurus.[11] The red-spotted catshark lives in the shallower rocky waters ranging from Peru to Chile and migrates to deeper waters during the winter.[12] They are usually restricted to small ranges. Juvenile and adult chain dogfish live on the soft or rocky bottom of the Atlantic from Massachusetts to Nicaragua. Adults tend to live on the soft, sandy bottoms possibly due to their need of egg deposition sites.[13]
Behaviour
Some catsharks do not undergo long distance migrations because they are poor swimmers. Due to being nocturnal, some species sleep close together in crevices throughout the day and then go hunting at night.[2] Some species such as the small spotted catshark, Scyliorhinus canicula, are sexually monomorphic and exhibit habitat segregation, where males and females live in separate areas; males tend to live in open seabeds, while females tend to live in caves.[14] Some species of catsharks may deposit egg cases in structured habitats, which may also act as nurseries for the newly hatched sharks.[13]
Reproduction
Many species of catsharks, like the chain dogfish, are oviparous and lay eggs in tough egg cases with curly tendrils at each end, known as "mermaid's purses", for protection, onto the seabed.[15] Almost a year is needed for a catshark to hatch from the egg. Instead of laying the eggs and letting them sit for a year, some species of catsharks hold onto the eggs until a few months before the shark hatches. Some catsharks exhibit ovoviviparity, aplacental viviparous, by holding onto the embryos until they are completely developed and then give live birth.[2] Some species of catsharks mate by biting and holding the female’s pectoral fins and wrestle her into a mating position.
Aquaria
The Australian marbled catshark, Atelomycterus macleayi, is a favored type for home aquaria, because it rarely grows to more than 60 cm (24 in) in length.[citation needed] The coral catshark, however, is the most common scyliorhinid in home aquaria.[5]
References
- ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Family Scyliorhinidae". FishBase. January 2009 version.
- ^ a b c Compagno, L. J.; Dando, M.; Fowler, S. L. (2005). Sharks of the world. Princeton University Press. p. 186.
- ^ a b c Torrance, Jeremy. "What's in a name?". bbc.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
- ^ A. Soares, Karla D. (June 2020). "Comparative anatomy of the clasper of catsharks and its phylogenetic implications (Chondrichthyes: Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae)". Journal of Morphology. 281 (6): 591–607. doi:10.1002/jmor.21123. ISSN 0362-2525. PMID 32271501.
- ^ a b Michael, Scott W. (March 2004). "Sharks at Home". Aquarium Fish Magazine. pp. 20–29.
- ^ Smith, M. M.; Frase, G. J; Chaplin, N.; Hobbs, C.; Graham, A. (April 7, 2009). "Reiterative pattern of sonic hedgehog expression in the catshark dentition reveals a phylogenetic template for jawed vertebrates". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 276 (1660): 1225–1233. doi:10.1098/rspb.2008.1526. PMC 2660956. PMID 19141424.
- ^ Dassule, Helene; Lewis, Paula; Bei, Marianna; Maas, Richard; McMahon, Andrew P. (October 24, 2000). "Sonic Hedgehog regulates growth and morphogenesis of the tooth". Development. 127 (22). The Company of Biologists Ltd: 4775–4785. doi:10.1242/dev.127.22.4775. ISSN 1477-9129. PMID 11044393.
- ^ "Scientists Discover 180 Species of Glowing Fish". Wired. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
- ^ "Sharks Light Up in Neon Colors". video.nationalgeographic.com. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved 2015-07-08.
- ^ Sparks, John S.; Schelly, Robert C.; Smith, W. Leo; Davis, Matthew P.; Tchernov, Dan; Pieribone, Vincent A.; Gruber, David F. (January 8, 2014). "The Covert World of Fish Biofluorescence: A Phylogenetically Widespread and Phenotypically Variable Phenomenon". PLOS ONE. 9 (1): e83259. Bibcode:2014PLoSO...983259S. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0083259. PMC 3885428. PMID 24421880.
- ^ Gomes, U. L.; Signori, C. N.; Gadig, O. B. (2006). "Report on the smallfin catshark Apristurus parvipinnis Springer & Heemstra (Chondrichthyes, Scyliorhinidae) in Western South Atlantic with notes on its taxonomy". Panamjas.
- ^ Farina, Jose M.; Ojeda, F. Patricio (May 3, 1993). "Abundance, Activity, and Trophic Patterns of the Redspotted Catshark, Schroederichthys chilensis, on the Pacific Temperate Coast of Chile". Copeia. 1993 (2): 545–549. doi:10.2307/1447159. JSTOR 1447159.
- ^ a b Able, K.W.; Flescher, D. (1991). "Distribution and Habitat of Chain Dogfish, Scyliorhinus retifer, in the Mid-Atlantic Bight". Copeia. 1991 (1): 231–234. doi:10.2307/1446270. JSTOR 1446270.
- ^ Wearmouth, V. J.; Southall, E. J.; Morritt, D.; Thompson, R. C.; Cuthill, I. C.; Partridge, J. C.; Sims, D. W. (2012). "Year-round sexual harassment as a behavioral mediator of vertebrate population dynamics". Ecological Monographs. 82 (3): 351–366. doi:10.1890/11-2052.1.
- ^ Castro, J. I.; Bubucis, P. M.; Overstrom, N. A. (1988). "The Reproductive Biology of the Chain Dogfish, Scyliorhinus retifer". Copeia. 1988 (3): 740. doi:10.2307/1445396. JSTOR 1445396.
External links
- FishBase entry for Scyliorhinidae
- Animal Diversity Web entry for Scyliorhinidae
- Mikko's Phylogeny Archive - Scyliorhinidae
- v
- t
- e
- Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Chordata
- Class Chondrichthyes
- Subclass Elasmobranchii
- Subdivision Selachii
- Order Carcharhiniformes
- Flatnose cat shark (A. acanutus)
- A. albisoma
- A. aphyodes
- Brown catshark (A. brunneus)
- Hoary catshark (A. canutus)
- Flaccid catshark (A. exsanguis)
- A. fedorovi
- Humpback cat shark (A. gibbosus)
- Longfin catshark (A. herklotsi)
- Smallbelly catshark (A. indicus)
- A. internatus
- Broadnose catshark (A. investigatoris)
- Japanese catshark (A. japonicus)
- Longnose catshark (A. kampae)
- Iceland catshark (A. laurussonii)
- Longhead catshark (A. longicephalus)
- Flathead catshark (A. macrorhynchus)
- Broadmouth cat shark (A. macrostomus)
- Ghost catshark (A. manis)
- Black roughscale catshark (A. melanoasper)
- Smalleye catshark (A. microps)
- Smalldorsal cat shark (A. micropterygeus)
- Largenose catshark (A. nasutus)
- Smallfin catshark (A. parvipinnis)
- A. pinguis
- Spatulasnout catshark (A. platyrhynchus)
- Deepwater catshark (A. profundorum)
- Broadgill catshark (A. riveri)
- Saldanha catshark (A. saldanha)
- Pale catshark (A. sibogae)
- South China catshark (A. sinensis)
- Spongehead catshark (A. spongiceps)
- Panama ghost catshark (A. stenseni)
- Australian spotted catshark (A. analis)
- Blotched catshark (A. funebris)
- Western spotted catshark (A. occiduus)
- Pale spotted catshark (A. pallidus)
- Dwarf catshark (A. parvus)
- Orange spotted catshark (A. rubiginosus)
- Variegated catshark (A. submaculatus)
- Gulf catshark (A. vincenti)
- Bali catshark (A. baliensis)
- Banded sand catshark (A. fasciatus)
- Australian marbled catshark (A. macleayi)
- Eastern banded catshark (A. marnkalha)
- Coral catshark (A. marmoratus)
- New Caledonia catshark (A. kanakorum)
- Australian blackspotted catshark (A. labiosus)
- Arabian catshark (B. alcockii)
- Dusky catshark (B. canescens)
- Broadhead cat shark (B. clevai)
- New Zealand catshark (B. dawsoni)
- Bristly catshark (B. hispidus)
- Spotless catshark (B. immaculatus)
- Sombre catshark (B. incanus)
- Mud catshark (B. lutarius)
- Whitefin swellshark (C. albipinnum)
- Circle-blotch pygmy swellshark (C. circulopullum)
- Cook's swellshark (C. cooki)
- Reticulated swellshark (C. fasciatum)
- Formosa swellshark (C. formosanum)
- Australian reticulate swellshark (C. hicosellum)
- Draughtsboard shark (C. isabellum)
- Australian swellshark (C. laticeps)
- Spotted swellshark (C. maculatum)
- Leopard-spotted swellshark (C. pardelotum)
- Painted swellshark (C. pictum)
- Sarawak pygmy swellshark (C. sarawakensis)
- Flagtail swellshark (C. signourum)
- Indian swellshark (C. silasi)
- Speckled swellshark (C. speccum)
- Balloon shark (C. sufflans)
- Blotchy swell shark (C. umbratile)
- Saddled swellshark (C. variegatum)
- Swellshark (C. ventriosum)
- Narrowbar swellshark (C. zebrum)
- Lollipop catshark (C. cephalus)
- Australian sawtail catshark (F. boardmani)
- Northern sawtail catshark (F. striatus)
- Antilles catshark (G. antillensis)
- Roughtail catshark (G. arae)
- Atlantic sawtail catshark (G. atlanticus)
- Longfin sawtail catshark (G. cadenati)
- Gecko catshark (G. eastmani)
- Slender sawtail catshark (G. gracilis)
- Longnose sawtail catshark (G. longirostris)
- Blackmouth catshark (G. melastomus)
- Southern sawtail catshark (G. mincaronei)
- Mouse catshark (G. murinus)
- Broadfin sawtail catshark (G. nipponensis)
- Peppered catshark (G. piperatus)
- African sawtail catshark (G. polli)
- Phallic catshark (G. priapus)
- Blacktip sawtail catshark (G. sauteri)
- Dwarf sawtail catshark (G. schultzi)
- Springer's sawtail catshark (G. springeri)
- Speckled catshark (H. boesemani)
- Blackspotted catshark (H. buergeri)
- Lined catshark (H. lineatus)
- Indonesian speckled catshark (H. maculosus)
- Tiger catshark (H. natalensis)
- Quagga catshark (H. quagga)
- Rusty catshark (H. sellus)
- Puffadder shyshark (H. edwardsii)
- Brown shyshark (H. fuscus)
- Natal shyshark (H. kistnasamyi)
- Dark shyshark (H. pictus)
- Honeycomb Izak (H. favus)
- Grinning Izak (H. grennian)
- Crying Izak (H. melanostigma)
- White-spotted Izak (H. punctatus)
- Izak catshark (H. regani)
- White-tip catshark (P. albimarginatus)
- White-clasper catshark (P. albipenis)
- Beige catshark (P. bigus)
- Campeche catshark (P. campechiensis)
- Velvet catshark (P. lanatus)
- McMillan's catshark (P. macmillani)
- Blackgill catshark (P. melanobranchus)
- Salamander shark (P. pilosus)
- Filetail catshark (P. xaniurus)
- Onefin catshark (P. profundicolus)
- Pyjama shark (P. africanum)
- Leopard catshark (P. pantherinum)
- Narrowmouthed catshark (S. bivius)
- Redspotted catshark (S. chilensis)
- Narrowtail catshark (S. maculatus)
- Lizard catshark (S. saurisqualus)
- Slender catshark (S. tenuis)
- Polkadot catshark (S. besnardi)
- Boa catshark (S. boa)
- Small-spotted catshark (S. canicula)
- Yellowspotted catshark (S. capensis)
- West African catshark (S. cervigoni)
- Comoro catshark (S. comoroensis)
- Brownspotted catshark (S. garmani)
- Cinder cloudy catshark (S. hachijoensis)
- Freckled catshark (S. haeckelii)
- Whitesaddled catshark (S. hesperius)
- Blotched catshark (S. meadi)
- Chain catshark (S. retifer)
- Nursehound (S. stellaris)
- Izu catshark (S. tokubee)
- Cloudy catshark (S. torazame)
- Dwarf catshark (S. torrei)