The beige catshark (Dichichthys bigus),[2] or beige bristle shark, is a bristle shark of the family Dichichthyidae, The first recorded specimen was a female recorded off the coast of Queensland, Australia around Lord Howe Island. Its length was 72 cm.
| Beige catshark | |
|---|---|
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| Preserved holotype of a female Dichichthys bigus | |
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| Underwater images of Dichichthys bigus (adult male ~610 mm TL) from the ROV SuBastian at 838–881 m depth | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Order: | Carcharhiniformes |
| Family: | Dichichthyidae |
| Genus: | Dichichthys |
| Species: | D. bigus
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| Binomial name | |
| Dichichthys bigus | |
| Synonyms | |
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Recently, a number of both male and female specimens (unpublished data) were captured in the waters off New Zealand, at the edge of the EEZ (exclusive economic zone). In 2024, the first footage of this shark was captured by the ROV SuBastian during Coral Sea surveys at Southern Small Detached Reef, Queensland.[3] To date, very little is known about the ecology of this species. Scientists are currently studying the sensory systems of this catshark in order to reveal information about its ecology and ultimately behaviour. The reproduction of the beige catshark is oviparous.
References
edit- ^ Kyne, P.M.; Cavanagh, R.D.; Valenti, S. (2016). "Parmaturus bigus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T42718A70709684. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T42718A70709684.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Dichichthys". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ White, William T.; Stewart, Andrew L.; O'Neill, Helen L.; Naylor, Gavin J. P. "Dichichthyidae, a New Family of Deepwater Sharks (Carcharhiniformes) from the Indo–West Pacific, with Description of a New Species". MDPI. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- Compagno, Dando, & Fowler, Sharks, Collins Gem, HarperCollins, London 2006 ISBN 0-00-721986-5
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