Creature Feature: Coral Catshark

When discussing deep sea sharks in previous posts, we acknowledge that little is known about them. The deep, dark, and hard to reach places of the ocean present a challenge to researchers that wish to observe and study them in their natural habitats. However, even sharks that live closer to the surface can be difficult to research! Habitats within the photic zone have their own set of challenges to contend with. Scientists are constantly innovating and refining techniques to study these fascinating creatures in their natural habitat. This week’s featured creature is yet another hard-to-study shark, the Coral Catshark (Atelomycterus marmoratus).

What we do know is that it is a common and abundant shark that lives in the shallows and within crevices of coral reefs in the Indo-Western Pacific. Like most catsharks, it has elongated and cat-like eyes. It has a slender body only reaching about 2.3 feet long. A beautiful coloration on this shark with saddle markings that have black spots which forms bar marks that bonds the saddles and large white spots. This shark is oviparous (egg laying) and lays pairs of egg-cases, once or twice per month. During the breeding season, 44-52 baby Coral Catsharks can be hatched. They are also harvested, though not for food. Because the Coral Catshark is so visually appealing and can adapt and hatch well in captivity, they are very popular home aquarium sharks.

Join us next week as we look at a shark that we can find right here in the San Francisco Bay.

References:
Edited by KC O’Shea
Photography: Pictures from ARKIVE  Steve Drogin and Wolfgang Polzer 
White, W.T. (SSG Australia & Oceania Regional Workshop, March 2003) 2003. Atelomycterus marmoratus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 08 July 2015.
http://species-identification.org/species.php?species_group=sharks&id=325&menuentry=soorten

Creature Feature: Pyjama Catshark

There’s an old fashioned phrase that people have used to describe someone or something that is really great: “That is the cat’s pajamas!” I don’t know if that phrase has anything to do with this week’s featured creature, but I would definitely say that in my opinion, the Pyjama Catshark is the cat’s pajamas!

Pyjama Catsharks (Poroderma africanum) are a beautifully patterned shark. They have stripes that extend, in various patterns, along their bodies. These patterns help the Pyjama Shark camouflage. Catsharks are relatively small species of shark, only reaching about 3 feet. Pyjama Catsharks are active at night but have been known to feed during the day in the shallow temperate coastal waters of Southern Africa.

 Much like the cats you find on land, the Pyjama Catshark is a sneaky hunter! You can find these little sharks lying in wait among a collection of squid egg cases. They rest motionless among the cases and wait for the opportune time to strike, as the young squid hatch or as an adult swims near.  Catsharks are also known to feed on small fish, bivalves, and other small organisms.

We have talked about many different sharks this year and most of those sharks are ovoviviparous, which you will recall means that they give birth to live young, though not the same way humans do. The Pyjama Shark is a different case as are oviparous, which means they lay eggs. They will lay eggs all year long in groups and the pups hatch within 5 months. Catsharks populations are currently abundant but because their habitat is within a popular fishing zone, they are susceptible to threats of trawl fishing and line fishing.

Join us next week as we view another type of Catshark!

References:
Edited by KC O’Shea
Photography: Doug Perrine and Don DeMaria courtesy of ARKIVE
Compagno, L.J.V. 2005. Poroderma africanum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 02 July 2015.
http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/ecology/kelp-pyjama_cat.htm