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Squaliformes (Sleeper and dogfish sharks) >
Dalatiidae (Sleeper sharks)
Etymology: Heteroscymnoides: -oides, Greek suffix meaning like, resembling, or having the form of: similar to Heteroscymnus (=Somniosus, now in Somniosidae) (See ETYFish); marleyi: In honor of Natal fisheries officer Harold Walter Bell-Marley (1872-1945), to whom Fowler was “indebted” for many “interesting” South African fishes,” this shark being “another of his numerous discoveries” (See ETYFish).
Eponymy: Harold Walter Bell Marley (1872–1945) was Principal Fisheries Officer (1918–1937) at Durban, South Africa, and a naturalist with a particular interest in entomology. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Fowler.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 0 - 502 m (Ref. 247). Tropical; 14°S - 30°S
Southeast Atlantic: near Ascension Island. Western Indian Ocean: Durban, Natal, South Africa.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 29.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5578)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. A cylindrical, dwarf dogfish shark with a long bulbous snout, small round eyes, and small gill slits; caudal fin paddle-shaped (Ref. 5578). Dark brown with conspicuous light-edged fins (Ref. 5578). Ventral surface covered with minute photophores (Ref. 6577).
Probably oceanic (Ref. 5578). The holotype was caught off a beach, but a second specimen was taken in the Atlantic at night between the surface and 502 m (Ref. 247). Food unknown but may subsist on pelagic fish and invertebrates (Ref. 247). Probably ovoviviparous with very few young (Ref. 247).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Distinct pairing with embrace (Ref. 205).
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 1 - Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(4/1):1-249. Rome, FAO. (Ref. 247)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 1.0020 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00309 (0.00142 - 0.00675), b=3.14 (2.94 - 3.34), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 4.1 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be <100).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (19 of 100).
