Western Dwarf Catshark, Parascyllium elongatum Last & Stevens 2008
Other Names: Elongate Carpet Shark, Elongate Carpetshark
A Western Dwarf Catshark, Parascyllium elongatum, female holotype (CSIRO H 2508–01, 421 mm TL), from near Chatham Island, southwest Western Australia, depth 50 m. Source: Australian National Fish Collection, CSIRO. License: All rights reserved
Summary:
An unusually long and slender (eel-like) catshark, with a dark greyish body, darker bands separated by slightly diagonal vertical rows of white spots along the sides, and a small head without a collar-like marking around the gill region.
The Elongate Carpet Shark is known from a single female specimen taken from the stomach of a School Shark, Galeorhinus galeus.
The Elongate Carpet Shark is known from a single female specimen taken from the stomach of a School Shark, Galeorhinus galeus.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2018, Parascyllium elongatum in Fishes of Australia, accessed 19 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2612
Western Dwarf Catshark, Parascyllium elongatum Last & Stevens 2008
More Info
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Depth |
50 m, from stomach of School Shark |
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Distribution |
Known only from near Chatham Island, Western Australia (35°02′ S, 116°28′ E) - taken from the stomach of a school shark collected from a depth of 50 m. The species is possibly endemic to Western Australia. |
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Features |
Body very long, slender (depth 18.5 in length); head very small (length less than 13% TL); eye small (eye length less than 8% of head length); pectoral fins small (anterior margin ca. 8% TL); dorsal fins small, low, with narrowly rounded apices. |
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Biology |
Catsharks are oviparous - females lay eggs. |
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Similar Species |
This eel-like shark is much more elongate than all other species of Parascyllium, and differs from these species in having a much smaller head (head length 12.7% vs. 13.8–18.0% TL, n=6), smaller eye (eye length 7.1 vs. 9.5–15.3% of head length), and a lower first dorsal fin (height 3.4 vs. 4.9–6.4% TL). Like its sympatric relative P. variolatum, it is partly covered in white spots, but lacks a distinctive ‘collar-like’ marking on the head and large blackish spots on the fins. It also may have a relatively narrower mouth (width 2.3% vs. 2.9-3.5% TL) and smaller dorsal fins (height of first 3.4% vs. 4.2–5.7% TL; height of second 3.7% vs. 3.9–5.3% TL). |
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Etymology |
The specific name is derived from the Latin elongatus (= prolonged) in allusion to its distinctive, elongate body shape. |
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Species Citation |
Parascyllium elongatum Last & Stevens 2008, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Paper No. 022: 35, figs 1-2. Type locality: near Chatham Island, WA [35°01'S 116°28'E]. |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2018 |
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Resources |
Western Dwarf Catshark, Parascyllium elongatum Last & Stevens 2008
References
Heard, M. & Huveneers, C. 2015. Parascyllium elongatum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T195440A68639837. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T195440A68639837.en. Downloaded on 16 January 2018.
Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 2008. Parascyllium elongatum sp. nov, a new collared carpetshark (Orectolobiformes: Parascylliidae) from southwestern Australia. pp. 35-38 in Last, P.R., White, W.T. & Pogonoski, J.J. (eds). Descriptions of new Australian chondrichthyans. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Paper No. 022: 1-358.
Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing Australia 2, 550 pp.
Weigmann, S. 2016. Annotated checklist of the living sharks, batoids and chimaeras (Chondrichthyes) of the world, with a focus on biogeographical diversity. Journal of Fish Biology 88(3): 837-1037 See ref online Open access
