Western spotted catshark

Taxobox
name = Western spotted catshark
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
trend =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Chondrichthyes
ordo = Carcharhiniformes
familia = Scyliorhinidae
genus = "Asymbolus"
species = "A. occiduus"
binomial = "Asymbolus occiduus"
binomial_authority = Last, Gomon & Gledhill, 1999

The western spotted catshark, "Asymbolus occiduus", is a cat shark of the family Scyliorhinidae found only around southwestern Australia, at depths of between 100 and 400 m. Its length is up to 60 cm.

The western spotted catshark has a medium-sized body with a narrow trunk, and a relatively short head. The caudal fin is long, and the peduncle deep. The dorsal and pelvic fins are low, and the anal fin base is longer than the pelvic-anal space. The teeth are ridged, with 5 main cusps.

Coloration is pale, yellowish green with 8 or 9 pale brownish saddles on the upper surface and sides, covered with sharply defined, brownish black spots, with a prominent dark spot usually beneath each eye and a single spot on the dorsal midline between each saddle.

Reproduction is oviparous.

References

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