African sawtail catshark

Taxobox
name = African sawtail catshark
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
trend =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Chondrichthyes
ordo = Carcharhiniformes
familia = Scyliorhinidae
genus = "Galeus"
species = "G. polli"
binomial = "Galeus polli"
binomial_authority = Cadenat, 1959The African sawtail catshark, "Galeus polli", is a cat shark of the family Scyliorhinidae found from southern Morocco to Namibia, at depths of between 200 and 720 m. Its length is up to 45 cm.

The African sawtail catshark is a long-nosed, dwarf catshark with a narrow head, large eyes, and small labial furrows. The upper caudal fin margin has a prominent crest of enlarged sawtooth-like denticles. It is found on the outermost shelf and upper slope, feeding mainly on small bony fish, including lanternfish, hakes, grenadiers, rockfish and lightfish, also squid and crustaceans. It tolerates bottoms with low oxygen levels. Its flesh is utilized fresh.

Coloration is pale brown, paler ventrally, juveniles having dark saddles that become less prominent in adults.

Reproduction is ovoviviparous.

References

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