WHITE-TIP CATSHARK
This recently described catshark has white fin tips
The White Tip catshark (Parmaturus albimarginatus) is a recently described species of catshark belonging to the family Scyliorhinidae. It is known only from a single specimen collected from northern New Caledonia, at a depth of 1,936-2,402 feet. This specimen was an adult male measuring 57.7 cm/1.9 feet.
Family: Scyliorhinidae – Catsharks
Genus: Parmaturus
Species: albimarginatus
Phylum– Chordata
Class– Chondrichthyles
Common Name– Ground Sharks
Family– Scyliorhinidae
Common Name– Catsharks
Genus– Parmaturus
Species– albimarginatus
Status: IUCN Red List LEAST CONCERN
Average Size and Length: The only known specimen, an adult male, measured a total of 57.7 cm/1.9 feet in length.
Teeth and Jaw: The mouth is short, with a length of 3.7% of the total length. There are short labial furrows, between 1.7-2.0% of the total length. The lower furrows are subequal in length to the upper furrows. The teeth are mainly tricuspidate with greatly elongated median cusps, in 92 rows in both jaws.
Head: The head is depressed and is shorter than the abdomen, with a length of 19.2% of the total length. The have a relatively short snout, with a prenarial length of 3.7% of the total length. There are spiracles behind the eyes.
Denticles: It has velvet-like skin of large tricuspidate denticles. The upper and lower anterior caudal fin margins have pronounced caudal crests, the denticles on crests are greatly enlarged.
Demographic, Distribution, Habitat, Environment and Range: The single specimen of the White-Tip catshark was collected in deep water from the western Pacific Ocean, in northern New Caledonia, at a depth of 1,936-2,402 feet. They are considered bathydemersal.
Aesthetic Identification: The White-Tip catshark has a soft body. The color is plain pale to medium brown. The posterior margins of the dorsal, caudal and anal-fins are distinctly white-edged. The first dorsal fin is slightly behind middle of the back. The pelvic fins are slightly in front of the mid-body, and the prepelvic length is 47% of the total length. The vent is at mid-length, with a pre-vent length of 50% of the total length. The pectoral-pelvic length is 24.8% of the total length. The second dorsal fin is larger than the first, and the anterior margins of the first are 8.7% and second dorsal fin are 10.4% of the total length. The subterminal caudal lobe is relatively small, with a subterminal margin length of 3.3% of the total length. The terminal margin length is 3.8% of the total length.
Biology and Reproduction: There are 43 monospondylous centra, 95 precaudal centra, and 136 total. Their reproduction is unknown.
Behavioral Traits, Sensing and Intelligence: Unknown.
White-Tip Catshark Future and Conservation: They are currently listed as of least concern, however they are only known from one specimen, so this species needs to be re-assessed.
White-Tip Catshark Recorded Attacks on Humans: Not a threat to humans.