Poroderma africanum (Striped catshark or pyjama shark)

(Gmelin, 1789)

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) >.Chondrichthyes > Elasmobranchii > Galeomorphii > Carcharhiniformes > Scyliorhinidae

Poroderma africanum (Striped catshark or pyjama shark) [Illustration by Ann Hecht ©]

Identification

A large catshark with long horizontal black stripes and short nasal barbels.

Size

To 1 m TL.

Range

West and southeast coast from Saldanha Bay to just north of East London. Endemic.

Habitat

Inshore and offshore in temperate water on the shelf, favoring rocky reefs, from the intertidal to 100 m.

Biology

Nocturnal, often resting in crevices and caves during the day, active at night. Lays one egg per oviduct. Eats bony fish, including anchovy, gurnards, hake, and fish offal, and shrimp, mantis shrimp, crabs, squid, octopi, cuttlefish, bivalves, and polychaete worms.

Human Impact

Frequently taken by shore anglers and usually released; also caught by trawlers.

Text by Leonard J.V. Compagno, David A. Ebert and Malcolm J. Smale