Species: Scyliorhinus meadi, Blotched catshark

Scyliorhinus meadi Springer, 1966

Blotched catshark    

Head and body relatively broad and robust, tapering to tail fin; head slightly depressed, rounded in profile; a crest over eye; eye a horizontal oval; snout short; front nostril flap without barbel; lip furrows on lower jaws only; teeth similar on both jaws, with 3-5 (mainly 3) points, center point longest; 5 gill slits, last 2 over pectoral; two large dorsal fins, second much smaller than first; origin of 1st dorsal  over or before pelvic insertion; origin of 2nd dorsal over last ½ of anal fin base; space between dorsal bases > anal fin base; pelvic and anal fins small; tail asymmetric, moderately long, its base without a keel, no crest of denticles along margins; skin denticles separated from each other, much longer than wide, with 3 ridges and rear points, the central point largest, denticles erect, point up and to rear.

Head and body light gray, with 7-8 distinct rectangular dark saddles on upper body and tail fin, with several alternating lateral blotches on belly region;  no white or black spots, although indistinct lighter areas sometimes within saddles.

Reaches 49 cm

On soft and hard bottoms

Depth range 274-591 m.

North Carolina to the southwest Gulf of Mexico & Jamaica.