The finback catsharks are a small family, the Proscylliidae, of ground sharks.[1] They can be found in warm seas worldwide and are often the most numerous and common shark in tropical regions. They are generally less than 1 m in length, and are slow-moving predators that feed on bony fish and small invertebrates. Although some bear live young, the majority lay eggs with almost fully developed young; these egg cases, known as "mermaid's purses", are unique in appearance to each species.
Graceful catshark (Proscyllium habereri) was first discovered by Hildendorf in 1901.[1]
Proscyllium venustum is found in temperate regions. It is distributed along the Northwest Pacific, primarily Japan. These sharks are oviparous; they lay eggs in pairs in which the embryos feed solely on yolk. This species is considered harmless to humans.[2]
Magnificent catshark (Proscyllium magnificum) A newly discovered species within the family Proscyllidae, it has little supporting research. It is tan in coloration with dark spots and blotches.[3] The body is considered slender and firm. This species grows to be at least 450 mm in length. They have been found in tropical waters throughout the eastern Indian Ocean off the coast of Myanmar.[3]
Pygmy ribbontail catshark (Eridacnis radcliffei)[4] It is known to be one of the smallest sharks within its species, with a maximum length around 257 mm. It is distributed in the waters surrounding the Philippines, along with the Indo-West Pacific Ocean. They are found located near muddy bottoms of the continental shelves. It is not a species directly targeted by the fishing industry; however, it is negatively impacted as bycatch by the shrimping industry due to shrimp being its primary food source. They are considered harmless to humans.[5]
Cuban ribbontail catshark (Eridacnis barbouri), can be found in deep water along the upper continental shelf. They are distributed throughout the western central Atlantic. Their primary food source is small fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods. Having two young per litter, ranging in size at birth to over 10 cm, this species is ovoviviparous. This species is viewed as harmless to humans.[6]
African ribbontail catshark (Eridacnis sinuans), is grey-brown in color. They are distributed within the western Indian Ocean, but confined to the South Africa, Mozambique, and Tanzania. This species is primarily found along the upper continental shelf in deep water. This species feeds on small bony fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods. Their ovoviviparous reproductive system allows them to have two young per litter between 15 and 17 cm in length when born. This species is also considered harmless to humans.[7]
The harlequin catshark (Ctenacis fehlmanni) has some unique characteristics that set it aside from the others. Its large mouth, small teeth and large pharynx with gill raker papillae make it unique among the family Proscyllidae. They are found in the tropical outer continental shelves of the western Indian Ocean, off the coast of Somalia, feeding on very small invertebrates.[8] They are oviparous, laying paired eggs in which their embryos feed solely on yolk.[8]
Distributionedit
Found primarily along the continental shelves, these species are scattered throughout the world. They have been documented and seen primarily in: Japan,[4] Myanmar,[3] the Philippines,[5] South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania,[7] and Somalia.[8]
Lifecycleedit
Reproductionedit
Within this family, species are either oviparous or ovoviviparous. Oviparous refers to many benthic sharks that lay their eggs on the seafloor and attach them to a substrate. The eggs have a hard and leathery shell surrounding them to serve as protection. The eggs feed solely on the yolk present within the casing.[9] Other species within this family are ovoviviparous. Ovoviviparous sharks give birth to live young.[10]
Human interactionsedit
This family of small ground sharks is not targeted by humans for any fishing or food purposes. Although not endangered or threatened, these species are negatively impacted by fisheries as a result of bycatch. The shrimping industry has affected them the most.[11]
Referencesedit
^ abHedges, S. Blair; Kumar, Sudhir (2009-04-23). The Timetree of Life. OUP Oxford. ISBN9780191560156.
^ abAkhilesh, K. V.; Bineesh, K. K.; White, W. T.; Pillai, N. G. K. (2012-08-01). "Aspects of the biology of the pygmy ribbontail catshark Eridacnis radcliffei (Proscylliidae: Carcharhiniformes) from the south-west coast of India". Journal of Fish Biology. 81 (3): 1138–1144. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2012.03379.x. ISSN 1095-8649. PMID 22880745.
^Wourms, John P. (1977-05-01). "Reproduction and Development in Chondrichthyan Fishes". American Zoologist. 17 (2): 379–410. doi:10.1093/icb/17.2.379. ISSN 0003-1569.
^Tompa, Alex S. (1979-08-01). "Oviparity, Egg Retention and Ovoviviparity in Pulmonates". Journal of Molluscan Studies. 45 (2): 155–160. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.mollus.a065489. ISSN 0260-1230.
proscylliidae, finback, catsharks, small, family, ground, sharks, they, found, warm, seas, worldwide, often, most, numerous, common, shark, tropical, regions, they, generally, less, than, length, slow, moving, predators, that, feed, bony, fish, small, inverteb. The finback catsharks are a small family the Proscylliidae of ground sharks 1 They can be found in warm seas worldwide and are often the most numerous and common shark in tropical regions They are generally less than 1 m in length and are slow moving predators that feed on bony fish and small invertebrates Although some bear live young the majority lay eggs with almost fully developed young these egg cases known as mermaid s purses are unique in appearance to each species Finback catsharksEridacnis radcliffeiScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ChondrichthyesSubclass ElasmobranchiiSubdivision SelachimorphaOrder CarcharhiniformesFamily ProscylliidaeCompagno 1984GeneraSee text Contents 1 Taxonomy 1 1 Genus Proscyllium 1 2 Genus Eridacnis 1 3 Genus Ctenacis 2 Distribution 3 Lifecycle 3 1 Reproduction 4 Human interactions 5 ReferencesTaxonomy editGenus Proscyllium edit Graceful catshark Proscyllium habereri was first discovered by Hildendorf in 1901 1 Proscyllium venustum is found in temperate regions It is distributed along the Northwest Pacific primarily Japan These sharks are oviparous they lay eggs in pairs in which the embryos feed solely on yolk This species is considered harmless to humans 2 Magnificent catshark Proscyllium magnificum A newly discovered species within the family Proscyllidae it has little supporting research It is tan in coloration with dark spots and blotches 3 The body is considered slender and firm This species grows to be at least 450 mm in length They have been found in tropical waters throughout the eastern Indian Ocean off the coast of Myanmar 3 Genus Eridacnis edit Pygmy ribbontail catshark Eridacnis radcliffei 4 It is known to be one of the smallest sharks within its species with a maximum length around 257 mm It is distributed in the waters surrounding the Philippines along with the Indo West Pacific Ocean They are found located near muddy bottoms of the continental shelves It is not a species directly targeted by the fishing industry however it is negatively impacted as bycatch by the shrimping industry due to shrimp being its primary food source They are considered harmless to humans 5 Cuban ribbontail catshark Eridacnis barbouri can be found in deep water along the upper continental shelf They are distributed throughout the western central Atlantic Their primary food source is small fishes crustaceans and cephalopods Having two young per litter ranging in size at birth to over 10 cm this species is ovoviviparous This species is viewed as harmless to humans 6 African ribbontail catshark Eridacnis sinuans is grey brown in color They are distributed within the western Indian Ocean but confined to the South Africa Mozambique and Tanzania This species is primarily found along the upper continental shelf in deep water This species feeds on small bony fishes crustaceans and cephalopods Their ovoviviparous reproductive system allows them to have two young per litter between 15 and 17 cm in length when born This species is also considered harmless to humans 7 Genus Ctenacis edit The harlequin catshark Ctenacis fehlmanni has some unique characteristics that set it aside from the others Its large mouth small teeth and large pharynx with gill raker papillae make it unique among the family Proscyllidae They are found in the tropical outer continental shelves of the western Indian Ocean off the coast of Somalia feeding on very small invertebrates 8 They are oviparous laying paired eggs in which their embryos feed solely on yolk 8 Distribution editFound primarily along the continental shelves these species are scattered throughout the world They have been documented and seen primarily in Japan 4 Myanmar 3 the Philippines 5 South Africa Mozambique Tanzania 7 and Somalia 8 Lifecycle editReproduction edit Within this family species are either oviparous or ovoviviparous Oviparous refers to many benthic sharks that lay their eggs on the seafloor and attach them to a substrate The eggs have a hard and leathery shell surrounding them to serve as protection The eggs feed solely on the yolk present within the casing 9 Other species within this family are ovoviviparous Ovoviviparous sharks give birth to live young 10 Human interactions editThis family of small ground sharks is not targeted by humans for any fishing or food purposes Although not endangered or threatened these species are negatively impacted by fisheries as a result of bycatch The shrimping industry has affected them the most 11 References edit a b Hedges S Blair Kumar Sudhir 2009 04 23 The Timetree of Life OUP Oxford ISBN 9780191560156 Proscyllium venustum summary page FishBase Retrieved 2016 03 28 a b c Proscyllium magnificum summary page FishBase Retrieved 2016 03 28 a b Akhilesh K V Bineesh K K White W T Pillai N G K 2012 08 01 Aspects of the biology of the pygmy ribbontail catshark Eridacnis radcliffei Proscylliidae Carcharhiniformes from the south west coast of India Journal of Fish Biology 81 3 1138 1144 doi 10 1111 j 1095 8649 2012 03379 x ISSN 1095 8649 PMID 22880745 a b Eridacnis radcliffei summary page FishBase Retrieved 2016 03 28 Eridacnis barbouri summary page FishBase Retrieved 2016 03 28 a b Eridacnis sinuans summary page FishBase Retrieved 2016 03 28 a b c Ctenacis fehlmanni summary page FishBase Retrieved 2016 03 28 Wourms John P 1977 05 01 Reproduction and Development in Chondrichthyan Fishes American Zoologist 17 2 379 410 doi 10 1093 icb 17 2 379 ISSN 0003 1569 Tompa Alex S 1979 08 01 Oviparity Egg Retention and Ovoviviparity in Pulmonates Journal of Molluscan Studies 45 2 155 160 doi 10 1093 oxfordjournals mollus a065489 ISSN 0260 1230 Search FishBase www fishbase org Retrieved 2016 03 28 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Proscylliidae amp oldid 1180857823, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
