Variegated Catshark, Asymbolus submaculatus Compagno, Stevens & Last 1999

Other Names: Saddled Catshark

Variegated Catshark, Asymbolus submaculatus. Source: Australian National Fish Collection, CSIRO. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial

Summary:

A relatively robust catshark with an ornate pattern of multi-colored blotches overlain with black spots, underside of the head, abdomen and tail sometimes with black spots, a short caudal fin and broadly rounded dorsal fins. The Variegated Catshark has teeth with 3 large cusps (length of longest exceeding half spiracle diameter).

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2020, Asymbolus submaculatus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 23 Jan 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1407

Variegated Catshark, Asymbolus submaculatus Compagno, Stevens & Last 1999

More Info

Distribution	Endemic to south western Western Australia, from off Eucla to the Perth region. Inhabits caves and ledges on rocky reef at depths of 30-200 m.
Biology	Oviparous (egg layer). Males are mature by 38 cm total length (TL).
Fisheries	Infrequently caught as incidental by-catch in the Great Australian Bight Trawl Sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery.
Etymology	The species is named submaculatus in reference to the spots that are present on the underside in some of the type specimens.
Species Citation	Asymbolus submaculatus Compagno, Stevens & Last 1999, CSIRO Marine Laboratory Report 239: 8, fig. 2. Type locality (probably incorrect): Off Cape Howe, New South Wales, Australia, 37°39.0'S, 150°13.0'E, depth 180-200 m.
Author	Bray, D.J. 2020
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Variegated Catshark, Asymbolus submaculatus Compagno, Stevens & Last 1999

References

Compagno, L.J.V., Dando, M. & Fowler, S. 2005. A Field Guide to the Sharks of the World. London : Collins 368 pp.

Compagno, L.J.V., Stevens, J.D. & Last, P.R. 1999. Australian spotted catsharks of the genus Asymbolus (Carcharhinidae: Scyliorhinidae). Part 1: Descriptions of three new species from Western Australia. pp. 2-18, figs 1-3 in Last, P.R. (ed.) Australian catsharks of the genus Asymbolus (Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae). CSIRO Marine Laboratory Report 239: 1-35, 6 figs

Hutchins, J.B. & Swainston, R. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete field guide for anglers and divers. Perth : Swainston Publishing 180 pp. (as Asymbolus sp.)

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Canberra : CSIRO Australia 513 pp. 84 pls. (as Asymbolus sp. C)

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing Australia 2, 550 pp.

Séret, B. & Last, P.R. 2008. Asymbolus galacticus sp. nov., a new species of spotted catshark (Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae) from New Caledonia. Cybium 32(2): 137-143. See ref online

Simpfendorfer, C. & Heupel, M.R. 2016. Asymbolus submaculatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T41726A68609812. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41726A68609812.en. Downloaded on 06 May 2020.

Stevens, J.D. 1994. Families Carcharhinidae, Triakidae, Scyliorhinidae. pp. 120-138 figs 76-107 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs. (as Asymbolus sp. 1)

White, W. 2008. Shark Families Heterodontidae to Pristiophoridae. pp. 32-100 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.