Species: Schroederichthys maculatus, Narrowtail Cat Shark

Schroederichthys maculatus Springer, 1966

Narrowtail Cat Shark

Body slender, tapering, trunk behind pelvics very elongate, tip of snout to anus ~1/3 TL; head slightly depressed, rounded in profile; a crest over eye; eye a horizontal oval; snout short, round; front nostril flap triangular, broad, without barbel; lip furrows of moderate size on both jaws; teeth similar on both jaws, most with 3 points, central point 4-5X length of side points; 5 gill slits, last 2 over pectoral; two large dorsal fins, of similar size; origin of first over last half of pelvic base to just behind it; origin of second dorsal over last third of anal fin base to behind anal fin insertion; pelvic and anal fins small; tail fin asymmetric, short, its base without a keel, no crests of denticles along margins; color pattern of combinations of light and dark spots and saddles.

Upper head and body brown, with many round to ovoid white spots; juvenile with 6-9 indistinct pale brown saddles, 3 between dorsal fins, those disappearing in adults; fins pale brown, without spots.

Reaches 35 cm.

Depth range 190-411 m.

Outer continental shelf and upper slope

Honduras to Colombia