Family: Scyliorhinidae, Catsharks

FAMILY SCYLIORHINIDAE

CATSHARKS

Catsharks are small sharks (to 1.6 m), with slender to moderately stout bodies; eyes horizontal ovals, rudimentary lower eyelids; spiracles present; 5 gill slits, last 2 over the pectoral fin; small, numerous teeth that usually have 1 or more secondary points at side of central main point; intestine with a spiral valve; origin of the first dorsal over or behind the pelvic fins; 2nd dorsal and anal fins relatively large, 2nd dorsal smaller to larger than first dorsal; tail strongly asymmetrical with little or no lower lobe, its top edge straight, sometimes with denticles.

This is the largest family of sharks, with 15 genera and ~95 species. Although 18 species in 5 genera that occur in our area; only two species (1 NW Atlantic, 1 W Atlantic) occur in less than 100 m depths are included here.