African spotted catshark

Holohalaelurus punctatus

Adult males unusually outgrow females

Cross-climate
Subtropical
Tropical
Island endemic
Island endemic species
Local endemic species
Restricted distribution
Marine fish
Indian Ocean
Africa
Elongated
Medium

African spotted catshark is known around Western Indian Ocean as a marine fish; It occurs in marine waters, and records give a maximum length of 35 cm.

Class: Sharks and Rays
Order: Ground Sharks
Family: Pentanchidae
Genus: Holohalaelurus
Maximum length: 35 cm
Water: Marine
Body shape: elongated
Distribution: Western Indian Ocean: endemic to the subtropical and tropical waters of southwestern Indian Ocean, southern Mozambique, off Natal, South Africa and off Madagascar (Ref. 75585 ). Status of threat: a common catch in bottom trawls in Natal and southern Mozambique, yet, despite recent biodiversity trawl surveys in that region, not a single specimen has been collected from this area since 1972. ORI data sheets confirm that specimens collected between 1964 and 1972 were apparently abundant, particularly off Mozambique in May 1969, and off Durban in June 1971. The only specimens of this species that have been collected since this date have been those from Madagascar in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s (Ref. 75585 ).

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