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Apristurus microps
– Least Concern
Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
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ANIMALIA
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Phylum:
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CHORDATA
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Class:
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CHONDRICHTHYES
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Order:
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CARCHARHINIFORMES
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Family:
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SCYLIORHINIDAE
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Scientific Name:
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Apristurus microps
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Species Authority:
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(Gilchrist, 1922)
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Synonym/s:
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Scylliorhinus microps Gilchrist, 1922
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Common Name/s:
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| English | — | SMALLEYE CATSHARK |
| French | — | HOLBICHE PORC |
| Spanish | — | PEJEGATO PUERCO |
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Taxonomic Notes:
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In the North Atlantic, this species is possibly caught as a bycatch in deepwater trawl fisheries but could be other Apristurus species. A careful examination of North Atlantic A. cf. microps should be compared to southern African forms. See Compagno (in prep. b) for further taxonomic notes.
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Assessment Information
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Red List Category & Criteria:
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LC ver 3.1 (2001)
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Year Assessed:
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2004
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Assessor/s:
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Ebert, D.A.
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Evaluator/s:
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Cavanagh, R.D., Kyne, P.M. & Fowler, S.L. (Shark Red List Authority)
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Justification:
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This catshark is known from occasional captures in deepsea exploratory trawls (in 700 to 1,200 m), becoming most abundant > 800 m. It is known to occur to 2,000 m or more. In southern Africa there are currently no deepsea trawl fisheries. In the North Atlantic, this species is possibly caught as a bycatch in deepwater trawl fisheries, but these could be other Apristurus species. A careful examination of North Atlantic A. cf. microps should be compared to southern African forms. Future expansion of deepwater fisheries could pose a threat to this poorly known species, however, at present much of its range is below the depth of fishing activities and it is considered to be Least Concern.
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Geographic Range
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Range Description:
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Northeast Atlantic: Between Scotland and Iceland. Southeast Atlantic: South Africa (Northern and Western Cape Provinces from the Orange River mouth south to Cape Agulhas and Eastern Cape Province). Possibly also the Northwest Atlantic (off Newfoundland, Canada) (Compagno in prep. b).
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Countries:
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Native:
Iceland; South Africa; United Kingdom
Uncertain presence and origin:
Canada (Newfoundland)
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FAO Marine Fishing Areas:
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Native:
Atlantic-northeast; Atlantic-southeast
Uncertain presence and origin:
Atlantic-northwest
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Population
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Population:
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Nothing is known about its population size.
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Population Trend:
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Habitat and Ecology
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Habitat and Ecology:
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A benthic catshark of the continental slope, found on or near the bottom at depths of 700 to 2,000 m. South African specimens have been collected on soft bottom between 700 to 1,200 m. This species is also known to migrate off the bottom to feed on midwater prey items. Newborns, as known with other Apristurus species, may inhabit the midwater column until they start to mature whereupon they assume a more demersal lifestyle.
Size at maturity: approx. 50 cm total length (TL) (both male and female). Maximum size: 61 cm TL (males); 54 cm TL (females).
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System:
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Marine
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List of Habitats:
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| 10.1 | Marine Oceanic - Epipelagic (0-200m) |
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Threats
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Threats:
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Possibly caught and discarded as bycatch by deepwater trawl fisheries, particularly in the North Atlantic. Expansion of deepwater fisheries may pose a threat to this species in the future, but at present most of its depth range is outside the reach of fisheries in its area of occupancy.
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List of Threats:
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| 4.1.1.2 | Accidental mortality - Bycatch - Fisheries-related - Netting (ongoing) |
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Conservation Actions
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Conservation Actions:
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None in effect or proposed at this time.
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List of Conservation Actions:
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| 3.1 | Research actions - Taxonomy (needed) |
| 3.2 | Research actions - Population numbers and range (needed) |
| 3.3 | Research actions - Biology and Ecology (needed) |
| 3.5 | Research actions - Threats (needed) |
| 3.8 | Research actions - Conservation measures (needed) |
| 3.9 | Research actions - Trends/Monitoring (needed) |
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Bibliography
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Bibliography:
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Compagno, L.J.V. In prep. b. Sharks of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the shark species known to date. Volume 3. (Carcharhiniformes). FAO Species Catalogue for Fisheries Purposes No. 1, Vol.3. FAO, Rome. Compagno, L.J.V., Ebert, D.A. and Smale, M.J. 1989. Guide to the sharks and rays of Southern Africa. Struik, Cape Town. 160 pp. Compagno, L.J.V., Ebert, D.A. and Cowley, P.D. 1991. Distribution of offshore demersal cartilaginous fishes (Class Chondrichthyes) of the west coast of southern Africa, with notes on their systematics. South African Journal of Marine Science 11:43-139. Ebert, D.A., Cowley, P.D. and Compagno, L.J.V. 1996. A preliminary investigation of the feeding ecology of catsharks (Scyliorhinidae) off the west coast of southern Africa. South African Journal of Marine Science 17:233-240. Shark Specialist Group. For more information, see the Specialist Group website.
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