Yellowspotted catshark

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Yellowspotted catshark
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Scyliorhinidae
Genus: Scyliorhinus
Species: S. capensis
Binomial name
Scyliorhinus capensis
(Müller & Henle, 1838)


The yellowspotted catshark, Scyliorhinus capensis, is a rare cat shark of the family Scyliorhinidae found in the southeast Atlantic from Lüderitz, Namibia to central Natal, South Africa between latitudes 0° S and 37° S. Its length is up to 1.22 m.

The yellowspotted catshark is a common inshore to offshore catshark. Its second dorsal fin is much smaller than the first. There are small anterior nasal flaps that do not reach the mouth, and no nasoral grooves. It prefers to feed on small bony fishes and crustaceans, also cephalopods.

Coloration is bright yellow or golden spots on a dark grey body with irregular blotches and saddles, cream below.

Reproduction is oviparous.

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