DWARF FALSE CATSHARK
A rarely known false-ey
The Dwarf False catshark (Planonasus parini) is a species of shark that belongs to the family Pseudotriakidae. It lives in the Indian Ocean near Socotra. This species is one of two known members of its genus, the other being the Pygmy False catshark off the coast of India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.
Family: Pseudotriakidae – False Catsharks and Gollumsharks
Genus: Planonasus
Species: parini
Phylum– Chordata
Class– Chondrichthyles
Common Name– Ground Sharks
Family– Pseudotriakidae
Common Name– False Catsharks and Gollumsharks
Genus– Planonasus
Species– parini
Status: IUCN Red List NOT EVALUATED
Average Size and Length: Females have been measured at 53.4 cm/1.8 feet.
Average Weight: Females have been weighed at 1.2 pounds.
Teeth and Jaw: The mouth is large and angular. Each jaw has about 110-120 rows of very small tri- to multicuspidate teeth.
Head: It has a relatively broad head. The head length is 2.0-2.5 times the mouth width, and 9.8-10.9 times the nostril width, 2.8-3.3 times the length of preventral caudal-fin margin. It has a bell-shaped head with a broadly parabolic snout. The preorbital snout length is 1.0-1.7 times the interorbital space (integumental) and 2.1-2.3 (skeletal), respectively. The preorbital snout length is 1.5-1.9 times the eye length. The preoral length is 0.7-0.8 times the mouth width, and 1.4-1.5 times the prenarial snout length. The eyes are elongated, and cat like with nictitating membranes. The eye length is 1.9-2.3 times the nostril width.
Demographic, Distribution, Habitat, Environment and Range: The Dwarf False catshark lives in the northwestern Indian Ocean off the Socotra Islands, south of Yemen and east of the Horn of Africa. It is a deep-water species.
Aesthetic Identification: The Dwarf False catshark is a small species with a soft body. They are plain dusky with fins and ventral snout that is somewhat darker. The free rear tip of first dorsal fin is marked white. The width at the middle gill slits is 10-16% of the total length. The length of the pectoral-fin anterior margin is 2.1-2.2 times the pectoral base length. The length of the first dorsal-fin inner margin is 0.4-0.5 times the pectoral-fin base length. The second dorsal-fin base length is 13% of the total length.
Biology and Reproduction: Reproduction is unknown. The monospondylous trunk vertebrae centra is 50-52, diplospondylous precaudal centra is 41, with a total centra of about 115-140.
Behavioral Traits, Sensing and Intelligence: Unknown.
Dwarf False Catshark Future and Conservation: They are not evaluated.
Dwarf False Catshark Recorded Attacks on Humans: Not a threat to humans.