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False Catshark
Pseudotriakis microdon Capello, 1868

A 1.75m long False Catshark collected by an AFMA observer on trawler, FV Austral Leader at a depth between 700m and 1000m in the Indian Ocean. This fish is registered in the Australian Museum Fish Collection (AMS I.41474-001). View larger image.

The False Catshark has catlike eyes and large spiracles (glossary). View larger image.

The False Catshark has a very large mouth with a wide gape. View larger image.

The False Catshark's small teeth are arranged in a band of 200 or more rows. View larger image.

The False Catshark is a soft-bodied fish that has a long first dorsal fin and a small lower caudal fin lobe. It has elongated cat-like eyes and a very large mouth with a wide gape.

This species is dark brown to grey. The fin edges may be darker.

Female False Catsharks grow to 2.95m in length, whereas males reach a maximum length of 2.69m.

Prey items are yet to be confirmed but probably include bony fishes, sharks, rays and invertebrates.

The False Catshark occurs in continental and insular slope waters usually in depths between 200m and 1500m. It is rarely caught over the continental shelf.

This species is known from numerous localities in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Further reading

1. Compagno, L.J.V. 1984. FAO species catalogue. Vol. 4, Sharks of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 2 - Carcharhiniformes: 251-655.
2. Fishbase: Pseudotriakis microdon. [Online January 2003].
3. Tricas, T.C., McCosker, J.E., & T.I. Walker. in Taylor, L. (Ed). 1997. Sharks & Rays. Harper Collins. Pp.288.