The spongehead catshark (Apristurus spongiceps) is a rare species of deep-sea catshark, family Scyliorhinidae.[2] This species was only known from two specimens taken in the Pacific Ocean: an adult from near Bird Island, Hawaii, and a juvenile from the Banda Sea off Sulawesi. They are found on or near the bottoms of insular continental slopes, at depths of 570 to 1,480 meters.[3] In 2002, the spongehead catshark was seen alive in its natural habitat for the first time, from the submersible Pisces IV at a depth of about a kilometer, on the Northampton Seamount off the northwestern Hawaiian Islands.[4]
The spongehead catshark has a thick body and head, with a moderately long, broadly rounded snout. The five pairs of gill slits are very small, and the septa between them are covered with unique pleats and folds that extend above and below, over the throat. The eyes are small and the nostrils are broad, with slit-like incurrent and excurrent openings. The mouth is long, large, and broadly arched, bearing prominently expanded dental bands. The two dorsal fins are about equal in size; the pectoral fins are rather small, while the pelvic fins are high and broadly rounded. The anal fin is short, high, and rounded. The caudal fin is moderately broad. The dermal denticles are closely set and give the skin a fuzzy or felt-like texture. It is dark brown, without fin markings.[3]
The adult holotype measured 51.4 cm long and the juvenile measured 10.5 cm long.[1] The juvenile was more slender than the adult, but shared the same distinctive pleated gills. As the holotype was a gravid female, the spongehead catshark is likely oviparous.[3] The spongehead catshark belongs to the A. spongiceps species group, characterized by a short, wide snout, seven to 12 valves in the spiral intestine, the upper labial furrows subequal to or shorter than the lower furrows, and a continuous supraorbital sensory canal.[1]
^ abcDuffy, C.A.J.; Huveneers, C.; Cordova, J.; Ebert, D.A. (2015). "Apristurus spongiceps". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T44226A80671692. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T44226A80671692.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
^Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2008). "Apristurus spongiceps" in FishBase. December 2008 version.
^ abcCompagno, Leonard J. V. (1984). Sharks of the World: An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Shark Species Known to Date. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization. ISBN 92-5-101384-5.
^Parrish, F. (Sep. 23, 2002). "Summary Log: Cruising Steeply through the Deep". NOAA Ocean Explorer. Retrieved on December 20, 2008.
and 29 Related for: Spongehead catshark information
The spongeheadcatshark (Apristurus spongiceps) is a rare species of deep-sea catshark, family Scyliorhinidae. This species was only known from two specimens...
Catsharks are ground sharks of the family Scyliorhinidae. They are the largest family of sharks with around 160 species placed in 17 genera. Although...
The coral catshark (Atelomycterus marmoratus) is a species of catshark in the family Scyliorhinidae. It is common on shallow coral reefs across the Indo-West...
The lollipop catshark (Cephalurus cephalus) is a little-known species of deep sea catshark, belonging to the family Scyliorhinidae, and the only described...
portal The spatulasnout catshark (Apristurus platyrhynchus), also known as the Borneo catshark or flatnose catshark, is a catshark of the family Scyliorhinidae...
The leopard catshark (Poroderma pantherinum) is a species of catshark, and part of the family Scyliorhinidae, endemic to the coastal waters of South Africa...
The chain catshark or chain dogfish (Scyliorhinus retifer) is a small, reticulated catshark that is biofluorescent. The species is common in the Northwest...
The quagga catshark (Halaelurus quagga) is a species of catshark, belonging to the family Scyliorhinidae. A small, slim-bodied shark reaching 37 cm (15 in)...
Sharks portal The smallbelly catshark (Apristurus indicus) is a catshark of the family Scyliorhinidae found in the western Indian Ocean near Somalia,...
order of sharks, with more than 270 species also including the small catsharks and hammerhead sharks. Members of this order are characterized by the...
Sharks portal The ghost catshark (Apristurus manis) is a catshark of the family Scyliorhinidae found on the continental slopes in the northwest Atlantic...
(collectively called the requiem sharks) along with the houndsharks, catsharks, and hammerhead sharks. They are distinguished by an elongated snout and...
Sharks portal The African ribbontail catshark, Eridacnis sinuans, is a finback catshark of the family Proscylliidae, found in the western Indian Ocean...
The white ghost catshark (Apristurus aphyodes) is a shark of the catshark family Scyliorhinidae found in deep water in the northeast Atlantic between...
(pale catshark) Apristurus sinensis Y. T. Chu & A. S. Hu, 1981 (South China catshark) Apristurus spongiceps C. H. Gilbert, 1905 (spongeheadcatshark) Apristurus...
thought to be a corruption of nusse, a name which once referred to the catsharks of the family Scyliorhinidae. The nurse shark family name, Ginglymostomatidae...
The eastern banded catshark (Atelomycterus marnkalha) is a species of catshark, and part of the family Scyliorhinidae. It is found along the northeastern...
The slender sawtail catshark (Galeus gracilis) is a little-known species of catshark, part of the family Scyliorhinidae, endemic to northern Australia...
Sharks portal The flaccid catshark (Apristurus exsanguis) is a catshark of the family Scyliorhinidae. It is endemic to the waters around New Zealand....