New deep-water catshark from the northern New Zealand waters

paperPublished online on 14. May 2013

Apristurus garricki sp. nov., a new deep-water catshark from the northern New Zealand waters (Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae)

Keiichi Sato, Andrew L. Stewart & Kazuhiro Nakaya

ABSTRACT:

A new deep-water catshark, Apristurus garricki sp. nov., is described from northern New Zealand waters. This species is a member of the longicephalus-group and has a conspicuously elongated prenarial snout and short duodenum and is morphologically similar to A. herklotsi from the western North Pacific and A. australis from Australian waters. A. garricki sp. nov. differs from A. australis and A. herklotsi by possessing large dermal denticles on the dorsal side of the body, and higher counts of monospondylous vertebrae and spiral valves. In addition, this species can be distinguished from A. herklotsi by its larger size at maturation, a higher count of monospondylous vertebrae and spiral valves, and distinct longitudinal striations on the surface of egg cases. It differs from A. australis by having fewer tooth rows on both jaws and the posterior position of the first dorsal-fin insertion being distinctly behind pelvic insertions. This species is currently only known from northern New Zealand waters, and is thought to be endemic to this region.

Marine Biology Research, Volume 9, Issue 8, 2013

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