Planonasus parini Weigmann, Stehmann & Thiel, 2013
Dwarf False Catshark
photo by Weigmann, S.

Family:  Pseudotriakidae (False catsharks)
Max. size:  53.4 cm TL (female); max.weight: 560.0 g
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 1000 - 1120 m
Distribution:  Northwestern Indian Ocean: off the Socotra Islands, south of Yemen and east of the Horn of Africa.
Diagnosis:  This small deep-water pseudotriakid species is distinguished by the following set of characters: soft body; bell-shaped head with a broadly parabolic snout; preorbital snout length 1.5-1.9 times the eye length; preoral length 0.7-0.8 times the mouth width, 1.4-1.5 times the prenarial snout length; eye length 1.9-2.3 times the nostril width; relatively broad head, width at middle gill slits 10-16% of TL; preorbital snout length 1.0-1.7 times the interorbital space (integumental) and 2.1-2.3 (skeletal), respectively; head length 2.0-2.5 times the mouth width, 9.8-10.9 times the nostril width, 2.8-3.3 times the length of preventral caudal-fin margin; length of pectoral-fin anterior margin 2.1-2.2 times the pectoral base length; length of first dorsal-fin inner margin 0.4-0.5 times the pectoral-fin base length; second dorsal-fin base length 13% of TL; color: plain dusky with fins and ventral snout somewhat darker, free rear tip of first dorsal fin marked white; each jaw with about 110-120 rows of very small tri- to multicuspidate teeth; monospondylous trunk vertebrae centra 50-52, diplospondylous precaudal centra 41, total centra about 115-140 (Ref. 92921).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 09 February 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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