Northern Sawtail Shark, Figaro striatus Gledhill, Last & White 2008
Other Names: Northern Sawtail Catshark
Northern Sawtail Shark, Figaro striatus. Source: Australian National Fish Collection, CSIRO. License: CC By Attribution-NonCommercial
Summary:
A very small pale brown catshark with dark pale-edged saddles separated by narrower, less distinct bars. The saddles rarely extend below the body midline. The Northern Sawtail Shark is only found off northeastern Australia.
Cite this page as:
Dianne J. Bray, Figaro striatus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 28 Mar 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/2627
Northern Sawtail Shark, Figaro striatus Gledhill, Last & White 2008
More Info
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Distribution |
Endemic to continental slope waters of the Coral Sea off northeastern Australia, from off Townsville to off Rockhampton, QLD. |
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Features |
Head short 17.2-19.6% TL, narrowly parabolic in dorsoventral view; eye small, positioned dorsolaterally, length 3.4-3.9% TL, 1.73-2.03 in snout; labial furrows well-developed, extending well beyond corners of mouth, lower furrow slightly longer than the upper furrow. Vertebrae 140-149, 35-38 monospondylous, 85-93 precaudal. First dorsal fin slightly smaller than the second dorsal fin. Pelvic fins small, slender, length 8.8-11.3% TL, rear part strongly directed posterodorsally (forming a small lobe, enveloping partly the proximo-lateral margin of clasper), inner margin strongly convex forming a partial apron and connected to clasper dorsomedially near its base, soft tissue connecting pelvic fin insertion weak, not forming a prominent apron overlying ventral surface of tail. Anal-fin base 9.9-10.9% TL, 2.4-6.0 times anal-caudal distance, much longer than second dorsal-fin base; caudal peduncle elongate, anal-caudal space 1.6-4.2% TL. Crest of enlarged denticles on anterior dorsal caudal-fin margin extending from above origin of ventral caudal-fin lobe almost to mid-length of dorsal caudal-fin margin; crest of enlarged denticles originating at mid-point of caudal peduncle, extending to elevated part of ventral lobe. |
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Colour |
In preservative: pale brown dorsally, with dark saddles and bars, lighter ventrally; pre-dorsally with about 4 larger saddles; saddles present below and between dorsal fins and extending onto caudal, these are rarely larger than eye diameter; larger saddles are pale edged, separated by narrower, less distinct bars; saddles rarely extending below the lateral midline. |
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Etymology |
The specific name striatus is from the Latin striatus meaning 'striped', in reference to the striped colour pattern of this species. |
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Species Citation |
Figaro striatus Gledhill, Last & White, 2008, CSIRO Mar. Atmosph. Res. Pap. 022: 181, figs 1–3. Type locality: south of Saumarez Reef, Saumarez Plateau, QLD, 22°42’S, 154°05’E, depth 416-419 m. |
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Author |
Dianne J. Bray |
Northern Sawtail Shark, Figaro striatus Gledhill, Last & White 2008
References
Compagno, L.J.V., Dando, M. & Fowler, S. 2005. A Field Guide to the Sharks of the World. London : Collins 368 pp. (as Galeus sp B)
Gledhill, D.C., Last, P.R. & White, W.T. 2008. Resurrection of the genus Figaro Whitley (Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae) with the description of a new species from northeastern Australia. 179–188 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.
Kyne, P.M. & Cavanagh, R.D. (SSG Australia & Oceania Regional Workshop, March 2003) 2003. Figaro striatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.1.
