| Galápagos Catshark | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Information | |
| Range | Galapagos Islands |
| Scientific Classification | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Chondrichthyes |
| Order | Carcharhiniformes |
| Family | Scyliorhinidae |
| Genus | Bythaelurus |
| Species | Bythaelurus giddingsi |
The Galápagos Catshark, (Bythaelurus giddingsi), is a new species of catshark from the Galapagos Islands. The species was first described in 2012. The Galapagos catshark is about a foot long and it is colored brown with light spots.
Description[]
The Galápagos catshark is brown on top with light spots arranged in an asymmetric pattern. Other species of catshark either lack spots, or else have a spots arranged in a single line. The bottom of the shark is lighter.
It is about a foot (30 cm) in length, and thus an intermediate sized catshark. Its head is short, representing between 21% and 24% of the shark's total length. The front of its snout is blunt and round. It has two high, narrow dorsal fins and a low, broard anal fin. The pectoral and pelvic fins have a somewhat triangular shape. It has a narrow, asymmetrical caudal fin.