Izak catshark

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Izak catshark
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Scyliorhinidae
Genus: Holohalaelurus
Species: H. regani
Binomial name
Holohalaelurus regani
(Gilchrist, 1922)

The Izak catshark, Holohalaelurus regani, is a cat shark of the family Scyliorhinidae, found in the southeast Atlantic and western Indian Ocean, from southern Namibia to southern Mozambique, and Kenya and Somalia, between latitudes 4° S and 37° S, at depths of between 160 and 740 m. Its length is up to 69 cm.

The Izak catshark is a broad-headed catshark found on the outer continental shelf and upper slope, on or near the bottom. It may occur in shallower water in the temperate region than off tropical and subtropical areas. It feeds mainly on pelagic bony fishes, also fish offal, hagfish eggs, crustaceans, and cephalopods.

Coloration is crowded dark brown spots on a yellowish background, producing a net-like pattern of light lines, and underside white with small black pores. Specimens less than 23 cm are blackish with white side spots.

Reproduction is oviparous.

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