New Zealand catshark

New Zealand catshark
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Pentanchidae
Genus: Bythaelurus
Species:
B. dawsoni
Binomial name
Bythaelurus dawsoni
(S. Springer, 1971)
Synonyms

Halaelurus dawsoni Springer, 1971

The New Zealand catshark (Bythaelurus dawsoni) is a species of shark belonging to the family Pentanchidae, the deepwater catsharks, in the order Carcharhiniformes.[2] This species is endemic to in the deep waters around New Zealand.[3][4] Its length is up to 45 centimetres (18 in).[2] The New Zealand catshark is a small, little-known deep water bottom shark. It is dark brown around the top with a few widely spaced pale spots, and white below. It feeds on bottom-living crustaceans. It is also completely harmless to humans.[2]

Conservation status

The New Zealand Department of Conservation has classified the New Zealand catshark as "Not Threatened" but with the qualifier "Data Poor" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[5] It is regarded as being at risk from bottom trawling.[3]

References

  1. ^ Finucci, B.; Kyne, P.M. (2018). "Bythaelurus dawsoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T44170A116737662. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T44170A116737662.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Bythaelurus dawsoni". FishBase. June 2011 version.
  3. ^ a b Roberts, Clive; Stewart, A. L.; Struthers, Carl D.; Barker, Jeremy; Kortet, Salme; Freeborn, Michelle (2015). The fishes of New Zealand. Vol. 2. Wellington, New Zealand: Te Papa Press. p. 85. ISBN 9780994104168. OCLC 908128805.
  4. ^ Francis, Malcolm P. (1 March 2006). "Distribution and Biology of the New Zealand Endemic Catshark, Halaelurus dawsoni". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 75 (3): 295–306. Bibcode:2006EnvBF..75..295F. doi:10.1007/s10641-006-0026-0. ISSN 1573-5133. S2CID 25028999 – via Researchgate.
  5. ^ Duffy, Clinton A. J.; Francis, Malcolm; Dunn, M. R.; Finucci, Brit; Ford, Richard; Hitchmough, Rod; Rolfe, Jeremy (2016). Conservation status of New Zealand chondrichthyans (chimaeras, sharks and rays), 2016 (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Conservation. p. 9. ISBN 9781988514628. OCLC 1042901090.


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