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Species: Scyliorhinus torrei, Dwarf Cat Shark, Dwarf catshark

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inconspicuous dark saddles + white spots
D2 < D1

Scyliorhinus torrei Howell-Rivero, 1936

Dwarf catshark   

Head and body relatively deep, narrow & slender, 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; 5 gill slits, last 2 over pectoral; two large dorsal fins, second much smaller than first; origin of 1st dorsal  just behind pelvic insertion; origin of 2nd dorsal just behind anal fin insertion; 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 small, flat, skin smooth.

Head and body light brown, with 7-8 dark saddles, last 2 on tail fin, those usually indistinct in large individuals; upper head and body with many randomly scattered, but relatively evenly spaced white spots as large as or larger than pupils.

Reaches 32 cm

On soft and hard bottoms

Depth range 229-600 m.

The Bahamas to the Puerto Rico plateau.


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Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • Offshore
  • Offshore Only
Water Column Position
  • Bottom only
  • Bottom
Habitat
  • Mud
  • Sand & gravel
  • Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom)
  • Reef and soft bottom
FishBase Habitat
  • Reef Associated
  • Bathydemersal
Feeding Group
  • Data
  • Carnivore
Diet
  • Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
  • Mobile benthic worms
  • Data
  • Octopus/squid/cuttlefish
  • Bony fishes
Egg Type
  • Benthic
  • No pelagic larva
  • No pelagic phase
  • Data
Global Endemism
  • West Atlantic Endemic
  • All species.
  • Greater Caribbean endemic
Regional Endemism
  • GC endemic
  • Island (s)
  • All species..
  • Island (s) only
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
  • Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
IUCN Red List
  • Least concern
  • Listed
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 32
Depth Range Min
  • 229
Depth Range Max
  • 600