Given Names / Appearance / Size / Distribution / Biology / Feeding / Similar Species / Endangerment / Danger to Humans

 

Given Names

French : Petite rousette  German : Kleingefleckter Katzenhai  Spanish : Pintarroja; Gat; Gato; Gatet Italian : Gattuccio; Jattupardu; Gattusi; Ciuttiello; Gata  Other Scientific Names : N/A

Diagnosis

An abundant, moderately small and slender shark of sandy colour with numerous dark spots and speckles. Snout short, broadly rounded; shallow depressed channels joining nostrils to mouth, covered by conspicuous anterior nasal flaps that extend posteriorly to the front of the upper jaw; labial furrows only on lower corners of the mouth. Eyes large and horizonatally elongate; spiracle prominent. First dorsal fin origin posterior to pelvic fin insertions; second dorsal fin smaller than 1st, with its origin over the anal fin insertion. Anal fin base elongate but measuring less than the interdorsal space. Dorsal colour sandy or slightly tan, with numerous small spots and speckles, dark brown or nearly black in colour and about the size of the eye pupil; sometimes with lighter spots although typically indistinct; ventral surfaces lighter.

Size

Exceptionally attaining 70cm + in Mediterranean waters (larger in North Sea); size at hatching 9 -10 cm.

Distribution

Océan Atlantique : Norway, British Isles down to Senegal  Mer Méditerranée : Very common; entire Mediterranean including Adriatic, Sea of Marmara and Bosphorus but not Black Sea.  Océan Indien : N/A Océan Pacifique : N/A

Biology

An abundant benthic shark over sandy, gravelly, algal or mud bottoms; occasionally amongst rocky outcrops; from the shoreline or intertidal down to 400m over neritic waters but with most inhabiting depths from 5 to 140m. Juveniles are typically found in shallower water and shoal by sex. Oviparous, with one egg per oviduct at a time; the horny, elongate egg-cases measuring about 4 x 2cm are attached to seaweed, rocks or other bottom features by elaborate tendrils and typically take between 6-7 months to hatch.  Mating occurs in deeper water from the late summer to November, when females move back to shallower spawning grounds and deposit their eggs until June, July or even later. Adult males then join them before both sexes return to deeper water. Females mature at 44cm and males at 39cm.

Feeding

These sharks feed largely upon small bottom-living invertebrates including whelks and other gastropods; bivalves; crustaceans including shrimps, lobsters and hermit crabs; small cephalopods and polychaetes. Small bottom-living teleosts are also taken, such as gobies, pilchards, juvenile mullet, damselfish and dabs; occasionally larger fish such as gurnards or whiting.

Similar Species

Nursehound (Scyliorhinus stellarsis) that has larger dots and is of bigger size. Best identifying feature is the nasal flaps that are smaller in the nursehound and do not reach mouth.

Endangerment

Not endangered.

Danger to humans

Harmless.