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 159 to 720 m (521–2,362 ft). These sharks are long and slim, and have a series of tooth-like scales on theirits tail, which gives them their “sawtail” name.

African sawtails reach a maximum size of at least 43 cm (16.9 in) long. They eat small bony fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods. They’re ovoviviparous, meaning embryos develop inside eggs within the female’s body before hatching. Females give birth to between 5 and 12 pups per litter, with newborns measuring about 14 cm (5.5 in) long. 

The species is currently listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Because it is  a small deep-water species, it is somewhat protected from fisheries pressure in parts of its range. However, it is still caught as bycatch in demersal trawls and long lines fisheries that reach the depths where it lives off West Africa. African sawtail catsharks are also used for human consumption and fishmeal. Their population is estimated to have declined by 30-49% over the 45 last years.

Do you have images or videos of African Sawtail Catsharks?
Submit them to [email protected].