| Family: |
Scyliorhinidae (Cat sharks), subfamily: Scyliorhininae |
| Max. size: |
120 cm TL (male/unsexed); 110 cm (female) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 20 - 500 m |
| Distribution: |
Western North Pacific: Japan Sea, East China Sea (Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan) (Ref. 94801); possibly up to New Zealand. Similar to Cephaloscyllium isabellum but the color pattern is different. |
| Diagnosis: |
This species is distinguished by the following characters: with three broad dark saddle blotches before first dorsal fin, the first saddle on posterior half of interorbital region and immediately behind eye, second saddle over pectoral fin base, and third saddle at middle between pectoral
and pelvic fin bases; adults with dark and irregular spots, sometimes with white spots between the saddles (Ref. 94801).
Description: body slender in young and stout in adults; head is large, broad and well depressed, while trunk is robust, the tail slender; overall color is lighter than C. isabellum, with irregular saddles and numerous blotches and a spotless ventral surface (Ref. 12951). |
| Biology: |
Found on rocky reefs (Ref. 12951); near shore, down to 300 m on sandy mud bottoms (Ref. 11230). Feeds mainly on bony fishes such as mackerel, sardines, filefishes, moray eels, dragonets, flatfishes and cowfishes (Ref. 12951) but also preys on elasmobranches and squid (Ref. 12951). Oviparous (Ref. 50449). Thrives and breeds in public aquariums (Ref. 12951). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 28 August 2019 (A2d) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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