Madagascar Cat Shark (Chiloscyllium Caerulopunctatum)

Madagascar cat shark (Gray bambooshark) - endemic of the coastal waters of the island. Madagascar. To date, the largest caught specimen had a body length of 67 cm. It is a bottom marine predator. Sharks of this species are believed to breed by laying eggs. Inactive fish with a low swimming speed.

Appearance

The Madagascar cat shark has a typical external structure of bamboo sharks. It has a long, dense, somewhat flattened and almost cylindrical body in cross section. The head is quite large and round. The muzzle is thick, truncated; the snout is round. Shark eyes are small, set high on the head, and have a rounded shape. Almost immediately behind them, but a little lower, there are rather large spaggers (slightly smaller in size than the eyes). There are small tendrils near the nostrils. The standard number of gill slits is five pairs. The fourth and fifth slits are located close to each other at the base of the pectoral fins. The mouth is in front of the eyes.

Shark fins do not have thorns. Both dorsal fins are approximately the same size. The pectoral fins are relatively small and wide. The pelvic fins are small, inferior in size to the pectoral and dorsal fins. The wide anal fin is located close to the long caudal fin, which in turn has a powerful base in the form of a far protruding posterior part of the axial skeleton. The tail fin is heterocercal.

Color

Sharks of this species are characterized by a dark gray-brown body color with light blue spots of various sizes and shapes scattered along the back, head and sides. The belly is light. Saddle spots and stripes are uncommon.

The size

Madagascar cat sharks are small fish. To date, the largest specimen caught has a body length of 67 cm.

Area

This shark is endemic to coastal waters about. Madagascar.

© FAO, www.fish-base.org

Habitat

Bottom sea predators.

Nutrition

The diet is based on invertebrates and small bottom fish.

Behavior

Madagascar cat sharks are inactive fish with low swimming speed. They spend most of their time at the foot of rocks or at the base of algae. Sharks of this species swim like eels.

Enemies

Any larger carnivorous sea creatures, as well as numerous parasites, are dangerous for these sharks.

Related article Interesting facts about sharks

Reproduction

It is believed that sharks of this species breed by laying eggs, however, this assumption has not yet been confirmed.

Economic value

Madagascar cat sharks do not have any value for humans and do not pose a danger to him.

Strength and security

IUCN has assigned the status "DD" to the species, which means "insufficient data".

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