INDONESIAN SPECKLED CATSHARK
This catshark is speckled and can be found around Indonesia
The Indonesian Speckled catshark (Halaelurus maculosus) is a species of catshark belonging to the family Scyliorhinidae. It is found in the Pacific Ocean around the southern coast of Java, off of Bali and Lombok in eastern Indonesia.
Family: Scyliorhinidae – Catsharks
Genus: Halaelurus
Species: maculosus
Phylum– Chordata
Class– Chondrichthyles
Common Name– Ground Sharks
Family– Scyliorhinidae
Common Name– Catsharks
Genus– Halaelurus
Species– maculosus
Status: IUCN Red List LEAST CONCERN
Average Size and Length: Males have been recorded to reach a maximum length of 45.7 cm/1.5 feet, and females 52.8 cm/1.7 feet.
Head: The head is short, wide and somewhat depressed, more so between eyes and ventrally. The snout is narrowly pointed, not upturned or knob-like in the lateral view, but slightly upturned in some paratypes. The dorsoventral view anterior to gill openings is broadly parabolic. A subocular ridge is evident, and variably angular. The eyes are small, spindle-shaped, and dorsolateral on the head, with the lower edges well medial to the lateral head margin in the dorsal view. The subocular ridges are weak and not well defined, which are subequal in length to the eye, almost a spiracle length from eye margin. There is no supraorbital crest.
Tail: The tail is long and slender. It is almost circular in the cross-section at the second dorsal-fin insertion. There are no lateral keels. There are no postnatal ridges between the anal fin base and lower caudal-fin origin.
Demographic, Distribution, Habitat, Environment and Range: The Indonesian Speckled Catshark is found in the Pacific Ocean. They are known from the southern coast of Java, and off the islands of Bali and Lombok in eastern Indonesia, and has also been recorded from several landing sites in the Philippines. They are considered tropical demersal.
Aesthetic Identification: The anterior trunk is wide and somewhat depressed. There are no longitudinal ridges on the dorsal surface and no obvious lateral ridges.
Biology and Reproduction: Unknown, but possibly oviparous.
Behavioral Traits, Sensing and Intelligence: Unknown.
Indonesian Speckled Catshark Future and Conservation: They are currently of least concern. They have been caught by demersal fisheries.
Indonesian Speckled Catshark Recorded Attacks on Humans: Not a threat to humans.