Japanese catshark

Taxobox
name = Japanese catshark
status =
trend =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Chondrichthyes
ordo = Carcharhiniformes
familia = Scyliorhinidae
genus = "Apristurus"
species = "A. japonicus"
binomial = "Apristurus japonicus"
binomial_authority = Nakaya, 1975

The Japanese catshark, "Apristurus japonicus", is a cat shark of the family Scyliorhinidae found in the northwest Pacific from off Chiba Prefecture, Honshū, Japan between latitudes 36° N and 34° N. Its length is up to 71 cm, and it can be found at depths of up to 2,000 m.

Japanese catsharks are named for their elongated eyes, resembling those of cats, as the lower lid has a longitudinal fold. The catshark has five gill openings, one of which is located on the pectoral fin. In addition to the dorsal fin, the catshark also has two small spineless dorsal fins. The Japanese catshark has been dated back to Jurassic times.

The main diet for this catshark includes invertebrates and small fish.

The little-known Japanese catshark is utilized for oil, human consumption and fishmeal or fish cakes.

Reproduction is oviparous, the eggs encased in a tough exterior that also encompassess small tendrils.

References

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