Galbraiths catshark (Apristurus sp. X) is a non-described species of shark belonging to the family Scyliorhinidae. Not much is known about this shark. It is similar to the Black Roughscale catshark.
Family: Scyliorhinidae – Catsharks
Genus: Apristurus
Species: sp. X
Phylum– Chordata
Class– Chondrichthyles
Common Name– Ground Sharks
Family– Scyliorhinidae
Common Name– Catsharks
Genus– Apristurus
Species– sp. X
Status: IUCN Red List DATA DEFICIENT
Average Size and Length: One mature specimen was measured at 58cm/ 1.9 feet.
Teeth and Jaw: The labial furrows are long. The upper and lower jaw teeth are similar, with a large central cusp and 2-4 smaller lateral cusplets.
Head: The snout is relatively short. There are conspicuous oval-shaped pores is on the ventral snout.
Denticles: The dermal denticles are sparse and weakly overlapping to non-overlapping, with three sharp points. The middle one is longer and narrow. There is a strong central ridge, a rounded anterior margin, and a dense scaly covering.
Tail: The caudal fin is long with a weak lower lobe.
Demographic, Distribution, Habitat, Environment and Range: Galbraith’s catshark has been found in the northwestern Atlantic on the Bear Seamount in very deep water at 5,906 feet.
Aesthetic Identification: The body is long and somewhat soft. It is uniformly brown to black in color. It is similar to the Black Roughscale Catshark. It is long-trunked. The pectoral base to pelvic fin distance is more than twice the inter-dorsal distance. There are two dorsal fins. The second dorsal fin is slightly larger than the first and inserted over the middle of the anal base. The first dorsal fin is inserted over the anterior half of the pelvic fin. The distance between the dorsal fins is almost equal to snout length. The pectoral fin is low on the body and is squared-off on the margin. The pelvic fin tips are noticeably separated from anal fin origin. The anal fin base is relatively short (about equal to inter-dorsal space), but higher than the anal fi of the Black Roughscale catshark.
Biology and Reproduction: Unknown.
Behavioral Traits, Sensing and Intelligence: Unknown.
Galbraith’s Catshark Future and Conservation: No data to evaluate.
Galbraith’s Catshark Recorded Attacks on Humans: Not a threat to humans.