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Catshark

Cat sharks
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Chondrichthyes
Order:Carcharhiniformes
Family:Scyliorhinidae
Genera
Apristurus[?]
Asymbolus[?]
Atelomycterus[?]
Aulohalaelurus[?]
Cephaloscyllium[?]
Cephalurus[?]
Galeus[?]
Halaelurus[?]
Haplolepharus[?]
Holohalaelurus[?]
Parmaturus[?]
Pentanchus[?]
Poroderma[?]
Schroederichthys[?]
Scyliorhinus

The cat sharks or catsharks are a large family (Scyliorhinidae) of sharks, with over 110 species recorded.

Cat sharks may be distinguished by their elongated cat-like eyes and two small dorsal fins[?] set far back. Most species are not particularly large, with lengths up to 60-70 cm or so, although the humpback cat shark[?] Apristurus gibbosus from the deep waters of the South China Sea has been recorded at 4 meters in length.

Most of the species have a patterned appearance, ranging from stripes to patches to spots. They feed on invertebrates and smaller fish. Some species are ovoviviparous[?] while most lay eggs in tough egg-cases with curly tendrils at each end.

The "swell sharks" of genus Cephaloscyllium[?] have the curious ability to fill their stomachs with water or air when threatened, increasing their girth by a factor of 2 or 3.

The marbled catshark[?] Atelomycterus macleayi is a favored type for home aquaria, because it rarely grows to more than 60 cm (2 ft).

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