The New Zealand catshark (Bythaelurus dawsoni) is a catshark of the family Scyliorhinidae in the order Carcharhiniformes.[2] This species is endemic to in the deep waters around New Zealand.[3][4] Its length is up to 45 centimetres (18 in).[2] The New Zealand catshark is a small, little-known deep water bottom shark. It is dark brown around the top with a few widely spaced pale spots, and white below. It feeds on bottom-living crustaceans. It is also completely harmless to humans.[2]

New Zealand catshark
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Subdivision: Selachimorpha
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Scyliorhinidae
Genus: Bythaelurus
Species:
B. dawsoni
Binomial name
Bythaelurus dawsoni
(S. Springer, 1971)
Synonyms

Halaelurus dawsoni Springer, 1971

Conservation status edit

The New Zealand Department of Conservation has classified the New Zealand catshark as "Not Threatened" but with the qualifier "Data Poor" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[5] It is regarded as being at risk from bottom trawling.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ Finucci, B.; Kyne, P.M. (2018). "Bythaelurus dawsoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T44170A116737662. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T44170A116737662.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2011). "Bythaelurus dawsoni" in FishBase. June 2011 version.
  3. ^ a b Roberts, Clive; Stewart, A. L.; Struthers, Carl D.; Barker, Jeremy; Kortet, Salme; Freeborn, Michelle (2015). The fishes of New Zealand. Vol. 2. Wellington, New Zealand: Te Papa Press. p. 85. ISBN 9780994104168. OCLC 908128805.
  4. ^ Francis, Malcolm P. (1 March 2006). "Distribution and Biology of the New Zealand Endemic Catshark, Halaelurus dawsoni". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 75 (3): 295–306. Bibcode:2006EnvBF..75..295F. doi:10.1007/s10641-006-0026-0. ISSN 1573-5133. S2CID 25028999 – via Researchgate.
  5. ^ Duffy, Clinton A. J.; Francis, Malcolm; Dunn, M. R.; Finucci, Brit; Ford, Richard; Hitchmough, Rod; Rolfe, Jeremy (2016). Conservation status of New Zealand chondrichthyans (chimaeras, sharks and rays), 2016 (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Conservation. p. 9. ISBN 9781988514628. OCLC 1042901090.