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Brown shyshark (Haploblepharus fuscus) — Scyliorhinidae

Brown shyshark

Haploblepharus fuscus

The Brown shyshark (Haploblepharus fuscus) is a saltwater fish of the family Scyliorhinidae that grows up to 69 cm.

Length
69 cm
Water
Saltwater
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The Brown shyshark is a small catshark or shyshark (Scyliorhinidae) from coastal waters of southern Africa. The species grows to about 69 cm and has a stocky, plain brown to red-brown body body. When threatened it curls into a ring and covers its eyes with the tail, hence the name shyshark. As a nocturnal bottom-dweller it hunts crustaceans, molluscs and small fish and lays eggs in horny capsules. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Brown shyshark?

The Brown shyshark has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Brown shyshark live?

The Brown shyshark lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Brown shyshark get?

The Brown shyshark grows to a maximum of about 69 cm.

Is the Brown shyshark dangerous to humans?

No, the Brown shyshark is harmless to humans.

Is the Brown shyshark edible?

The Brown shyshark is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Bruine schaamhaai sourced
English name
Brown shyshark sourced
Scientific name
Haploblepharus fuscus
Family
Scyliorhinidae
Other names
Brown shyshark verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
69.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten inferred
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Haploblepharus

More from the family Scyliorhinidae

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