Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) > Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks) > Scyliorhinidae (Cat sharks)
Etymology: Halaelurus: Greek, als = salt, charm, elegance + Greek, ailouros = cat (Ref. 45335).

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Marine; demersal; depth range 0 - 172 m (Ref. 5578). Subtropical, preferred ?; 33°S - 35°S

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

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).

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 45.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 244); 47.0 cm TL (female)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 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).

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).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Oviparous, with 6 to 11 egg-cases per oviduct (commonly 6 to 9) at a time (Ref. 244). Egg cases retained until embryos are well-advanced (Ref. 5578).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Compagno, Leonard J.V. | Collaborators

Compagno, L.J.V., 1984. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 2 - Carcharhiniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(4/2):251-655. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 244)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Data deficient (DD)

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; gamefish: yes

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More information

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Ecology
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Common names
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Eggs
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Age/Size
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Summary page | Point data | Common names | Photos

Internet sources

Halaelurus natalensis (Regan, 1904)