Scyliorhinus haeckelii

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	CHONDRICHTHYES	CARCHARHINIFORMES	SCYLIORHINIDAE

Scientific Name:

Scyliorhinus haeckelii

Species Authority:

(Ribeiro, 1907)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Freckled Catshark

Synonym/s:

Scyliorhinus fernandezi

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Data Deficient ver 3.1
Year Assessed:	2004
Assessor/s	Rincon, G. (SSG South America Regional Workshop, June 2003)
Evaluator/s:	Kyne, P.M., Cavanagh, R.D. & Fowler, S.L. (Shark Red List Authority)
Justification: Scyliorhinus haeckelii is a small deepwater catshark with only occasional records along its distribution (Bahia State, Brazil, south to Uruguay). Previous records north of Bahia State (to Venezuela) are erroneous and based on confusion with other similar species. Very little is known about this species and there is no available information to infer population size, geographical distribution (which needs to be better defined due to confusion with other Scyliorhinus spp.) and biology. The species is taken as bycatch in southern Brazil by demersal trawlers and longliners and since commercial interest is developing for catsharks in this area, and their value increasing, catch monitoring is a priority. The species is captured in low numbers by bottom trawl nets off Uruguay.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	The species is only occasionally captured throughout its range.
Countries:	Native: Brazil (Bahia); Uruguay
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Atlantic – southwest

Population [top]

Population Trend:	Unknown

Population Trend:

Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Compagno (in prep. b) reports Scyliorhinus haeckelii on or near the bottom, on the continental shelf and upper slope, at depths of 37 to 402 m. It is associated with deep-reef habitats, mostly deeper than 250 m. Off southeastern and southern Brazil it is found on the upper continental slope. Oviparous with two eggcases deposited at a time (Compagno, in prep. b). Maximum size around 50 cm total length (TL), males mature at 35 cm TL, females at 40 cm TL and size at hatching 10 to 13 cm TL (Compagno, in prep. b), however, these sizes may need verification due to possible confusion with other Scyliorhinus species.
Systems:	Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

Compagno (in prep. b) reports Scyliorhinus haeckelii on or near the bottom, on the continental shelf and upper slope, at depths of 37 to 402 m. It is associated with deep-reef habitats, mostly deeper than 250 m. Off southeastern and southern Brazil it is found on the upper continental slope. Oviparous with two eggcases deposited at a time (Compagno, in prep. b). Maximum size around 50 cm total length (TL), males mature at 35 cm TL, females at 40 cm TL and size at hatching 10 to 13 cm TL (Compagno, in prep. b), however, these sizes may need verification due to possible confusion with other Scyliorhinus species.

Systems:

Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Taken as bycatch by otter trawlers for squid off Santa Catarina State, and by bottom longliners and deepwater trawlers off São Paulo State (Brazil). The most numerously captured specimens are usually adult males, followed by immature males and females. Detailed catch data are not available due to lack of species-specific recording, the problem further compounded by misidentification. The species is captured in low numbers by bottom trawl nets off Uruguay (Domingo, pers. comm.). UTILISATION In some areas of southern Brazil, sharks of the genus Scyliorhinus (S. haeckelii and S. besnardi) are of increasing commercial interest (their value rose substantially during 2001 and 2002).

Major Threat(s):

Taken as bycatch by otter trawlers for squid off Santa Catarina State, and by bottom longliners and deepwater trawlers off São Paulo State (Brazil). The most numerously captured specimens are usually adult males, followed by immature males and females. Detailed catch data are not available due to lack of species-specific recording, the problem further compounded by misidentification. The species is captured in low numbers by bottom trawl nets off Uruguay (Domingo, pers. comm.).

UTILISATION
In some areas of southern Brazil, sharks of the genus Scyliorhinus (S. haeckelii and S. besnardi) are of increasing commercial interest (their value rose substantially during 2001 and 2002).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	No conservation measures are in place for this species.

Conservation Actions:

No conservation measures are in place for this species.

Citation:	Rincon, G. 2004. Scyliorhinus haeckelii. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 02 December 2008.
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