BANDED SAND CATSHARK

Taxonomy:

Phylum– Chordata

Class– Chondrichthyles

Order– Carcharhiniformes

Common Name– Ground Sharks

Family– Scyliorhinidae

Common Name– Catsharks

Genus– Atelomycterus

Species– fasciatus

Status: IUCN Red List LEAST CONCERN

Average Size and Length: An egg case measures 67 mm/6.7 cm long. Mature males have been measured at 33 cm/1-foot-long. Mature females have been measured at 35 cm/1.1 feet long. The maximum recorded is 45 cm/1.5 feet long.

Teeth and Jaw: The mouth is long. The labial furrows are very long. The teeth have 3 cusps with a large, sharp, pointed central cusp.

Head: The head is narrow. There are greatly expanded anterior nasal flaps that extend to the mouth. There are nasal grooves.

Demographic, Distribution, Habitat, Environment and Range: The Banded Sand catshark can be found in western Australia. There are some isolated records from the northern territory and from Queensland. They can be found on the bottom on the sand and shelly sand on the continental shelf between 89-400 feet. They are considered demersal and prefer tropical climates.

Diet: They presumably feed on small fish and crustaceans.

Aesthetic Identification: The Banded Sand catshark is a slender shark. It has dark brown saddles on a lighter background. There are a few scattered small black spots and sometimes small white spots. The dorsal fins are broadly triangular. They are much larger than the anal fin. The origin of the first dorsal fin is above the rear third of the pelvic fin bases.

Biology and Reproduction: They are oviparous. They lay pairs of eggs, but one per oviduct. The egg cases are small.

Behavioral Traits, Sensing and Intelligence: Their behavior is unknown.

Banded Sand Catshark Future and Conservation: They are currently of least concern. Their range is largely made up of unfished areas.

Banded Sand Catshark Recorded Attacks on Humans: Not a threat to humans.