Bythaelurus tenuicephalus

Kaschner, Weigmann & Thiel, 2015



Classification: Elasmobranchii Carcharhiniformes Pentanchidae

Reference of the original description
Kaschner, C.J. & Weigmann, S. & Thiel, R. (2015)
Bythaelurus tenuicephalus n. sp., a new deep-water catshark (Carcharhiniformes, Scyliorhinidae) from the western Indian Ocean. Zootaxa, 4013(1), 120–138

Types
Bythaelurus tenuicephalus
Holotype: ZMH: 10163; Paratype: ZMH: 26070;


Description :


Citation: Bythaelurus tenuicephalus Kaschner, Weigmann & Thiel, 2015: In: Database of modern sharks, rays and chimaeras, www.shark-references.com, World Wide Web electronic publication, Version 03/2024

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Bythaelurus tenuicephalus KASCHNER, Weigmann & Thiel, 2015 paratype, ZMH 26070, juvenile male, 285 mm TL © Dr. Simon Weigmann, Center of Natural History, Hamburg, Germany
Common names
eng Narrowhead Catshark

Short Description
Original Diagnosis after KASCHNER, WEIGMANN & THIEL, 2015 [22987]: A very small scyliorhinid species with the following characteristics: body firm and elongated; snout long (preorbital length 6.7–7.1% TL) and slender, only slightly bell-shaped in dorsoventral view without distinct lateral indention; pre-outer nostril length 1.2 times internarial space; preorbital snout length 1.0–1.4 times interorbital space; preoral snout length 1.3–1.4 times in mouth width; eye length 14.0–15.3 times in predorsal distance, 6.0–7.0 times in head length and 1.7–1.8 times eye height; head length 2.7–3.1 times width at level of maximum outer extent of anterior nostrils; head width at level of maximum outer extent of anterior nostrils only 1.2 times width at level of lateral indention of head, equal to preorbital length, and 7.2–7.3% TL; tongue and roof of mouth loosely set with oral papillae of distinct size; pelvic anterior margin 1.9–2.1 times in pectoral fin anterior margin; first dorsal fin base 1.9 times in interdorsal space; length of second dorsal fin inner margin 1.4 times in second dorsal fin height; second dorsal-fin base length 5.9–6.9% TL; anal-fin base 0.9–1.1 times interdorsal space. Coloration in preservative: bicolored with an abrupt lateral demarcation of medium brown dorsal and whitish ventral color, about five indistinct darker blotches on dorsolateral surface at gill slits and dorsal and caudal fins; fins lighter towards their margins; monospondylous trunk vertebrae centra 38–40, diplospondylous precaudal centra 43–50, total centra about 133–138.

Distribution
Known from the upper slope off northern Tanzania in the Pemba Channel between Zanzibar and Pemba Island, 5° 27.9’ S, 39° 18.8’ E, and from off southern Mozambique, 21°12'8" S, 35°41'8" E–21°16'6" S, 35°41'3" E [22987]

Size / Weight / Age
TL 291 mm [22987]

Habitat
marine; depth range 463-550 m [22987]

Dentition
upper jaw with 67–76 and lower jaw with 62–64 rows of small tricuspidate teeth [22987]

Remarks
shark-references Species-ID=14435;