Pygmy Ribbontail Catshark
Common Name: Pygmy ribbontail catshark
Scientific Name: Eridacnis radcliffei
Size: Up to 23cm
Found in: Indo-west Pacific, near Tanzania, Gulf of Aden, India (in the Gulf of Mannar, and Bay of Bengal), Sri Lanka, Andaman Islands, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
Population Status: Least Concern (IUCN 2011)
Tooth Shape:
Pygmy Ribbontail Catsharks feed on small fishes, crustaceans and sometimes squid.
They have a triangular shaped mouth with comb-like teeth.
Reproduction:
Ovoviviparous - Pups hatch from egg cases inside the mother and are born live. Litters between 1-2 pups are born at about 10cm in length.
Interesting Facts:
These are one of the smallest living sharks, reaching a maximum size of 23cm.
These sharks are found on upper continental shelves and muddy bottoms at great depths, ranging from 71 - 766m.
They are a brown colour with dark brown bands on their ribbon-like tail.
Pygmy Ribbontail Catsharks are often caught as bycatch by bottom trawlers.
Sources:
www.marinebio.org
www. iucnredlist.org
www. fishbase.org
