Atelomycterus macleayi

(Whitley, 1939)

Vernacular names

English : Marbled catshark
French : Requin-chat de MacLeay

Classification

Class : Elasmobranchii
Order : Carcharhiniformes
Family : Scyliorhinidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification

Adults can reach up to 60 cm in length. Both dorsal fins of same size and without clear tip. Body color mostly brown with darker back (sometimes forming saddles for younger specimens) and black blotches around flanks, back and fins.

Range and habitat

The species occurs in the eastern Indian Ocean and is endemic to the northern Australian coasts of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Lives in shallow inshore rocky and sandy areas, down to 4 meters deep.

Conservation

IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is apparently locally abundant within its relatively small range. So far it is rarely collected for the trade and its habitat is still preserved.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation