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Apristurus brunneus (Gilbert, 1892)
Brown Cat Shark
Family: Scyliorhinidae
Introduction to the Fish

Photograph

© Neil McDaniel     (Photo ID #15954)

Map

Source: Distribution of Apristurus brunneus as compiled by Aquamaps

Introduction


The brown cat shark is a relatively slender dark brown shark, length 42 to 69 cm. It is a little known deepwater species of the north-eastern and east-central Pacific that is reported from Canada (British Columbia); Ecuador; Mexico (Baja California); Panama; Peru; United States (California, Oregon, Washington), and may occur further south (Huveneers and Duffy 2004). It is a common bycatch of deep water trawlers. This is an oviparous species, with the incubation period of eggs possibly one year (Huveneers and Duffy 2004). A detailed species description is provided here. Very little is known about its biology.

Report shark sightings to 1 877 50-SHARK (1-877-507-4275).

Species Information

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Dark brown, with conspicuous light posterior margin on fins (Ref. 247).

Source: FishBase. Compagno, L.J.V. 1984 . (Ref. 244)

Biology

Species Biology

Inhabits the outer continental shelf and upper slope (Ref. 244). Found over muddy or sandy bottoms (Ref. 27436). Feeds on small true shrimps, euphausiid shrimps, squids, and small fishes (Ref. 244). Oviparous (Ref. 50449). demersal; marine; depth range 33 - 950 m (Ref. 244). Subtropical.

Source: FishBase. Compagno, L.J.V. 1984 . (Ref. 244)

Distribution

Distribution

Eastern Pacific: British Columbia, Canada to northern Baja California, Mexico. Probably south to Panama, Ecuador, and Peru.

Source: FishBase. Compagno, L.J.V. 1984 . (Ref. 244)

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
NativeSNRNo StatusDD (Apr 2007)



BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Catulus brunneus Gilbert, 1892

Additional Range and Status Information Links

NatureServe Explorer
 University of Alaska Museum

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