Brown Shyshark

discussion

Remarks: Knysna (EC) is also frequently listed as a type location, but this second specimen, a possible ‘ paratype’ according to Human (2007) appears to never have been catalogued despite a search of the SAIAB collection. Both Bass et al. (1975 a) and Springer (1979) refer to the two specimens described by Smith (1950) but make no mention of a paratype. One of us (D. A. Ebert) along with L. J. V. Compagno also searched the J. L. B. Smith (= SAIAB) collection (ca. 1988 – 89) and could not locate this second specimen. Conservation status: VU (2020).

An annotated checklist of the chondrichthyans of South Africa

materials_examined

South Africa voucher material: Holotype: SAIAB [formerly RUSI] 21. Non-types: SAIAB [formerly ORI] 2477, SAIAB [formerly ORI] 2595, SAIAB [formerly RUSI] 3700, SAIAB [formerly RUSI] 3701, SAIAB 6079 [formerly ORI 2470], SAIAB 6081 [formerly ORI 2487), SAIAB 6082 [formerly ORI 2471], SAIAB [formerly RUSI] 7617, SAIAB [formerly RUSI] 10289, SAIAB [formerly RUSI] 12826, SAIAB [formerly RUSI] 13144, SAIAB [formerly RUSI] 14005, SAIAB [formerly RUSI] 19993, SAIAB [formerly RUSI] 25182, SAIAB [formerly RUSI] 41963, SAM 32523, SAM 32614. See Human (2007) for details. South African distribution: Endemic. The species occurs from just west of Cape Agulhas (WC) to Hibberdene, southern KZN, although it is most common from Storms River to East London (EC). It is less common to the west between Cape Agulhas and Storms River, with one anomalous specimen recorded from Langebaan Lagoon (SAM 32614) on the west coast. East London (EC) appears to be the eastern limits for the species, although Bass et al. (1975) reported two specimens from southern KZN (ORI 2595). Similar to other Haploblepharus species, improved species-specific identification will help in determining the distributional limits of thi

An annotated checklist of the chondrichthyans of South Africa

description

Description. The morphometric and meristic data for H. fuscus are given in Table 3. Holotype, adolescent male 495 mm TL (mean of all specimens examined in Table 3, including the holotype, see Study material): H. fuscus is a stocky bodied Haploblepharus shark, although juveniles are slender, with a relatively broad head, head width at the pectoral origin 4.06 (3.91) times the preoral length; head length 1.24 (1.28) times distance from snout tip to first gill slit; height of first gill slit 1.86 (1.82) times the height of the fifth gill slit; eye length 5.67 (4.14) times longer than spiracle length; basimandibular cartilage found at the symphysis of the Meckels cartilage in the lower jaw; mouth length 1.33 (1.47) times the prenarial length; mouth width 8.5 (6.27) times the upper labial furrow length; labial cartilages present; nasal lobes fused into a nasal flap that covers the excurrent apertures and extends to the mouth; interorbital width 1.19 (1.15) times the nasal flap width; head strongly depressed, head width at the posterior margin of the orbit 1.76 (2.0) times its height; head width 1.44 (1.60) times its height; trunk strongly depressed, trunk width 1.36 (1.40) times its hei

A taxonomic revision of the catshark genus Haploblepharus Garman 1913 (Chondrichthyes: Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae)

diagnosis

Diagnosis. The largest member of the genus, H. fuscus has a relatively stocky body at all stages of maturity, particularly in mature individuals; abdomen width 11.0 % TL for the holotype (mean 11.4 % TL); snout rounded in the holotype, not coming to a point, becoming more broadly rounded in larger individuals, head width at the posterior margin of the orbit 12.0 % TL in the holotype (mean 12.2 % TL); head strongly depressed, head height at the posterior margin of the orbit 6.8 % TL for the holotype (mean 6.1 % TL); trunk depressed, trunk height 8.9 % TL and trunk width 12.1 % TL in the holotype (mean 8.7 % TL and 12.2 % TL, respectively); claspers of mature males stout, inner length 6.9 times the base in the holotype (mean inner length 4.3 times base). The holotype of H. fuscus has 84 rows of teeth in the upper jaw (mean 71.2) and 83 rows of teeth in the lower jaw (mean 74.7). The holotype of H. fuscus has a total of 134 (mean 134.8) vertebral centra. Haploblepharus fuscus always has a chocolate brown or dull brown background colouration, occasionally with indistinct saddles, and occasionally with white spots present, rarely with dark spots present.

A taxonomic revision of the catshark genus Haploblepharus Garman 1913 (Chondrichthyes: Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae)