Home · Scyliorhinidae · Red-spotted cat shark
Red-spotted cat shark (Schroederichthys chilensis) — Scyliorhinidae

Red-spotted cat shark

Schroederichthys chilensis
LC · Least Concern

The Red-spotted cat shark (Schroederichthys chilensis) is a saltwater fish of the family Scyliorhinidae that grows up to 62 cm.

Length
62 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Southeast Pacific off Chile and Peru; rocky coastal bottoms.
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Want the complete picture on the Red-spotted cat shark?

Get the app

Description

The redspotted catshark is a small catshark (Scyliorhinidae) from the southeastern Pacific off the coast of Chile and Peru. The species has a slender, elongate body with dark saddle blotches and red to brown spots. It is an inshore species of the continental shelf, keeping among rocks and weed. As a bottom predator it hunts crustaceans, molluscs and small fishes. It is oviparous, with horny egg cases; males and females differ in their dentition. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Red-spotted cat shark?

The Red-spotted cat shark has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern. Small catshark with saddle blotches and red spots; oviparous with horny egg cases.

Where does the Red-spotted cat shark live?

The Red-spotted cat shark lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Southeast Pacific off Chile and Peru; rocky coastal bottoms.

How big does the Red-spotted cat shark get?

The Red-spotted cat shark grows to a maximum of about 62 cm.

Is the Red-spotted cat shark dangerous to humans?

No, the Red-spotted cat shark is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Red-spotted cat shark edible?

The Red-spotted cat shark is rarely eaten.

More photos

Red-spotted cat shark (Schroederichthys chilensis) — Scyliorhinidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Gnzlndrs (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Red-spotted cat shark (Schroederichthys chilensis) — Scyliorhinidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) valeguzmansalazar, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Red-spotted cat shark (Schroederichthys chilensis) — Scyliorhinidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Maximiliano Antonio Neira Fraga, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Red-spotted cat shark (Schroederichthys chilensis) — Scyliorhinidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) nutriplus colectivx, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Red-spotted cat shark?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Red-spotted cat shark is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Red-spotted cat shark verified
Scientific name
Schroederichthys chilensis
Family
Scyliorhinidae
Other names
Redspotted catshark verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
62.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal 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
Natural range
Southeast Pacific off Chile and Peru; rocky coastal bottoms. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Crustaceans, molluscs and small fishes sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Small catshark with saddle blotches and red spots; oviparous with horny egg cases. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Schroederichthys

More from the family Scyliorhinidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Red-spotted cat shark?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Red-spotted cat shark is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Red-spotted cat shark? Get the app