Filetail catshark

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Filetail catshark
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Scyliorhinidae
Genus: Parmaturus
Species: P. xaniurus
Binomial name
Parmaturus xaniurus
(Gilbert, 1892)

The filetail catshark, Parmaturus xaniurus, is a cat shark of the family Scyliorhinidae, found from the eastern Pacific from Oregon to the Gulf of California, at depths of between 90 and 1,250 m. Its length is up to 45 cm.

The filetail catshark is found on the outer continental shelf and upper slope. It feeds on a variety of small fish (e.g. lanternfish) and invertebrates. It possesses an enlarged gill region which is an adaptation to areas with low dissolved oxygen levels. Has a high concentration of squalene in its liver which affords it neutral buoyancy. Regularly caught by bottom trawlers but not utilized at all.

Coloration is brownish-black above, lighter below, with all fins dark.

Reproduction is oviparous. The egg-cases have 'T'-shaped lateral flanges and short tendrils.

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