Halaelurus natalensis (Regan, 1904)
Tiger catshark
Halaelurus natalensis
photo by du Preez, S.

 Family:  Scyliorhinidae (Cat sharks)
 Max. size:  45 cm TL (male/unsexed); 47 cm TL (female)
 Environment:  demersal; depth range 0 - 172 m
 Distribution:  Southeast Atlantic: Cape Agulhas to East London in South Africa. Until recently, two species were confused under this name, the present one and the recently described Halaelurus lineatus (Ref. 244).
 Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. A catshark with a prominent upturned knob on the snout, a broad head, and with no spots on the body (Ref. 5578). Yellow-brown in color, with pairs of broad, vertical, dark brown stripes outlining dusky saddles (Ref. 5578), cream ventrally (Ref. 5510).
 Biology:  Found on the continental shelf, from close inshore to deeper water (Ref. 244). Feeds mainly on small bony fishes and crustaceans, also cephalopods and small elasmobranchs (Ref. 244).
 IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient  (Ref. 96402)
 Threat to humans:  harmless
 Country info:   
 

 Entered by: Carpenter, Kent E. - 15.06.92
 Modified by: Garilao, Cristina V. - 28.10.98
 Checked by: Luna, Susan M. - 23.03.94

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Page created by Jen, 05.08.02, php script by kbanasihan 06/09/2010 ,  last modified by dsantos, 20/08/10