Galeus polli (African sawtail catshark)

Cadenat, 1959

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) >.Chondrichthyes > Elasmobranchii > Galeomorphii > Carcharhiniformes > Scyliorhinidae

Galeus polli (African sawtail catshark) [Illustration by Ann Hecht ©]

Identification

A long-nosed, narrow-headed dwarf catshark with large eyes, small labial furrows, and a prominent crest of enlarged sawtooth-like denticles on the upper caudal margin. Colour bronze-grey above, lighter below, often with several darker saddle blotches but sometimes plain.

Size

To 45 cm TL.

Range

West coast, north-central Namibia; elsewhere eastern Atlantic from southern Morocco to the area.

Habitat

Outermost shelf and upper slope on bottom at 200 to 720 m deep.

Biology

Abundant in Namibian waters, can tolerate bottom with low oxygen levels. Bears up to 12 young. Feeds mainly on small bony fish, including lanternfish and lightfish, also squid and crustaceans.

Human Impact

None.

Text by Leonard J.V. Compagno, David A. Ebert and Malcolm J. Smale