Lollipop Catshark

About the Lollipop Catshark

The lollipop catshark is a deepwater shark found in the Gulf of California and around the Baja Peninsula. Its name comes from its tadpole-like shape. Its head is rounded and very large relative to its body, which is short and thin. Its gills are also very large and are thought to be an adaptation for life in low-oxygen conditions. Its depth range is 155 to 927 m. Like other deep water species, this shark is very soft to the touch and has been described as being almost gelatinous.

These sharks prey on on small fish and crustaceans. They’re ovoviviparous and carry to eggs in their uterus until they hatch. Pups are born at 10 cm, become sexually mature when they are 19 to 24 cm long and reach a maximum length of 28 cm.

This species is taken as by-catch by trawling fisheries, but since they live in very deep water they’re somewhat protected from fishing pressures. There isn’t enough data about these sharks to assess their population and hence the IUCN considers them “data deficient.”

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