Apristurus longicephalus Nakaya, 1975
Longhead catshark
Apristurus longicephalus
photo by FAO

Family:  Pentanchidae (Deepwater catsharks)
Max. size:  60 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 680 - 950 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Seychelles, Japan, East China Sea, Philippines, and Australia. New specimens were caught off western New Caledonia (Coriolis Bank, Lansdowne Bank, Lord Howe Ridge and Fairway Ridge) and off Mozambique (Ref. 53905).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. Grey-black, without conspicuous markings (Ref. 244).
Biology:  Inhabits deep water, probably near the bottom (Ref. 11146). Oviparous (Ref. 50449). First record of a cartilaginous fish manifesting rudimentary hermaphroditism (Ref. 53905). Biology little known (Ref. 6871).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 17 February 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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