Apristurus ampliceps Sasahara, Sato & Nakaya, 2008

Family:  Pentanchidae (Deepwater catsharks)
Max. size:  85.5 cm TL (male/unsexed); 79.6 cm TL (female)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 800 - 1503 m
Distribution:  Southwest Pacific: New Zealand and Australia.
Diagnosis:  This species has the following characters: upper labial furrows about equal to, or slightly shorter than the lower ones; length of pre-outer nostril 4.5-6.6% TL; semicircular upper jaw; continuous supraorbital sensory canal; first dorsal fin is slightly smaller than second; anal fin is rounded in shape; narrow dermal denticles, leaf-like and sparse in distribution; enlarged dermal denticles absent along the dorsal margin of caudal fin; 8-11 spiral valves in intestine; size at maturity 65.0-75.0 cm TL; uniformly brown or blackish brown body and fins (Ref. 76941).
Biology:  Claspers of males are short and less than 2.0% TL in specimens less than 52.7 cm TL, which is ranked as maturity stage 1 (immature); 73.3-76.5 cm TL have long but soft claspers (3.9-4.2% TL, maturity stage 2; greater than 78 cm TL have long, well developed and hardened claspers (3.6-5.6% TL, maturity stage 3). Immature males are less than 52.7 cm TL and for females 37.4 cm TL (maturity stage 1); adolescent in males of 73.3-76.5 cm TL and females of 57.8-65.6 cm TL are (maturity stage 2); and adult in males with greater than 78 cm TL and females greater than 67.8 cm TL (maturity stage 3) (Ref. 76941).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 June 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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