African Sawtail Catshark

About the African Sawtail Catshark

The African sawtail catshark is a small species of catshark found in the western coast of Africa, from Morocco to South Africa. It lives near or at the bottom, at depths of 300 to 500 m. These sharks are long and slim, and have a series of tooth-like scales on its tail, which gives them their “sawtail” name.

African sawtails are about 45 cm long. They eat small bony fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods. They’re ovoviviparous and females give birth to up to 12 pups each litter. Newborns are about 14 cm long.

Being a small deep water species, these sharks are somewhat protected from fishing pressures. They’re abundant in some regions of Africa and are currently listed as a “Least Concern” species.

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