Small-dorsal Catshark

About the Small-dorsal Catshark

The Small Dorsal Catshark is a species of ground shark found in the South China Sea. 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. They often sleep in groups during the day, and do their hunting at night.

They’re oviparous but the average litter size is unknown. They grow to a maximum length of 37cm.

Their name comes from the unusually small dorsal fin of the only specimen ever examined (the holotype). It is possible that the dorsal fin on this particular shark was a malformed and that the species will be reviewed if more specimens are found.

There is not enough confirmation to assess their population health. Their conservation status is “Data Deficient.”

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