The genus Apristurus is made up of at least 32 described species and a large number of species that are potentially undescribed. Our featured shark, the deep water catshark (Apristurus profundorum), is only known from ONE holotype, an adolescent male. This Apristurus profundorum holotype was a 51 cm total length (TL) adolescent male caught off Delaware Bay, USA in the Northwest Atlantic at ~1,490 m (~ 4888 ft) depth. Adults may get relatively large compared to the other Apristurus species, which tend to be relatively small. Generally a sluggish genus, these sharks live on or near the bottom on the upper continental slope. Their preferred diet includes crustaceans, squids and small fishes. Little is known about their reproduction, although it is assumed they are oviparous with one egg per oviduct. As with other sharks whose eggs have coiled tendrils, these tendrils help attach the egg cases to sturdy areas. This species gets commonly confused with Apristurus manis, and therefore much is still unknown. While some deepwater Chondrichthyans get captured as bycatch in deepwater fisheries, it is unknown if this species is subject to that. The IUCN doesn't have enough information to assess them beyond Data Deficient (DD). ever heard of these sharks before?glossary
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AuthorTFUI Founder Melissa C. Marquez is author of all animal bios and "Behind the Fins" segments. SEE MELISSA'S TEDx TALK HERE:
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