The graceful catshark is a species of finback catshark living in the western Pacific. It is named after its sleek appearance, along with a series of spots and a broad tail.
Graceful Catshark Scientific Classification |
|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Chondrichthyes |
| Order | Carcharhiniformes |
| Family | Proscylliidae |
| Genus | Proscyllium |
| Scientific Name | P. habereri |
Description
Male graceful catsharks are about 1.4-1.9 feet, while females are 1.7-2.1 feet long. Looking closely, one can see that there are nasal flaps that cover the mouth of the shark, as well as cat-like eyes that have nictitating membranes. Their triangular mouth extends past the eyes.
Its slender body ends with a broad caudal fin. The shark’s body is covered with dark brown spots of variable sizes, with small white spots and dusky blotches sometimes seen on the fins and body.
Where do they live
Map Of The Graceful Catshark’s Habitat
Graceful catsharks can be found along the western Pacific, with sightings in China, Korea, northwestern Java, southeastern Japan, the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
These sharks live at a depth range of 164-328 feet, which is the location of the continental and insular shelves. However, there have been instances of it swimming to the sublittoral zone at a depth of 1050 feet.
Behavior
Feeding
Their diet consists of bony fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans.
Reproductive
They are oviparous, i.e., they give birth by laying eggs.
Interactions with humans
The IUCN lists this shark as “Vulnerable” or “VU”.
