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Brown cat shark (Apristurus brunneus) — Scyliorhinidae

Brown cat shark

Apristurus brunneus
DD · Data Deficient

The Brown cat shark (Apristurus brunneus) is a saltwater fish of the family Scyliorhinidae that grows up to 69 cm.

Length
69 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
33.0–1306.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The brown catshark is a deepwater catshark (Pentanchidae) from the northeastern Pacific. The species has a slender, uniformly dark-brown body with large, cat-like eyes. It lives bottom-bound on the outer continental shelf and upper slope, over mud and sand bottoms. As a bottom hunter it feeds on small fishes, crustaceans and squid. It lays eggs in horny egg cases. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Brown cat shark?

The Brown cat shark has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Brown cat shark live?

The Brown cat shark lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Brown cat shark get?

The Brown cat shark grows to a maximum of about 69 cm.

Is the Brown cat shark dangerous to humans?

No, the Brown cat shark is harmless to humans.

Is the Brown cat shark edible?

The Brown cat shark is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Bruine kathaai sourced
English name
Brown cat shark verified
Scientific name
Apristurus brunneus
Family
Scyliorhinidae
Other names
Brown cat shark; Brown catshark; Brown shark verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
69.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
33.0 verified
Max depth (m)
1306.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Apristurus

More from the family Scyliorhinidae

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