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Filetail cat shark (Parmaturus xaniurus) — Scyliorhinidae

Filetail cat shark

Parmaturus xaniurus
LC · Least Concern

The Filetail cat shark (Parmaturus xaniurus) is a saltwater fish of the family Scyliorhinidae that grows up to 45 cm.

Length
45 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
88.0–1250.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The filetail catshark is a small catshark (Pentanchidae) from the northeastern Pacific. The species has a slender, brownish body with large, cat-like eyes and a row of enlarged, rough scales along the upper edge of the tail, to which the name refers. It lives near the bottom on the outer continental shelf and upper slope. It feeds on small fishes such as lanternfishes and on invertebrates. It lays egg cases. The species is small and harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Filetail cat shark?

The Filetail cat shark has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Filetail cat shark live?

The Filetail cat shark lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Filetail cat shark get?

The Filetail cat shark grows to a maximum of about 45 cm.

Is the Filetail cat shark dangerous to humans?

No, the Filetail cat shark is harmless to humans.

Is the Filetail cat shark edible?

The Filetail cat shark is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Vijlstaart-kathaai sourced
English name
Filetail cat shark verified
Scientific name
Parmaturus xaniurus
Family
Scyliorhinidae
Other names
Filetail catshark verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
45.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Crescent (lunate) inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
88.0 verified
Max depth (m)
1250.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Parmaturus

More from the family Scyliorhinidae

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