Lined Catshark

About the Lined Catshark

The lined catshark is a species of ground shark found around the southern tip of Africa, in both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. They’re found at the surface and in waters as deep as 290 m. Like all members of the catshark shark family, they’re bottom feeders, have elongated cat-like eyes, and two small dorsal fins set far back. They’re mostly nocturnal and often sleep in groups during the day.

They’re oviparous, and can have up to 8 pups at a time. Pups are born about 8 cm long,  and grow to a maximum length of 55 cm.

Their name comes from the distinctive lines on their dorsal side.

They’re sometimes caught by prawn trawl fisheries. There is not enough confirmation to assess their population health. Their conservation status is “Data Deficient.”

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Scientific Name Halaelurus lineatus
OrderGround Sharks - Carcharhiniformes
GenusHalaelurus
CitesNot Listed
IUCNData Deficient
ReproductionOviparous
SizeSmall
Litter Size 1-16
Common Length 56.0 cm
Max LenghtNA
Depth Range 0 - 290 m
DistributionWestern Indian Ocean, Southeast Atlantic
EnvironmentDemersal