Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks) >
Scyliorhinidae (Cat sharks) > Scyliorhininae
Etymology: Cephaloscyllium: cephalus, from kephale (Gr.), head, referring to its very broad and depressed head; skylion, Greek for dogfish or small shark (See ETYFish); isabella: Based on “d’Isabelle” of Broussonet (1780), who said the shark’s color inspired the name; probably derived from isabelline, a pale cream-brown parchment color, consistent with Broussonet’s description of “roux cendré” (i.e., fawn, tan or ashy brown) [often incorrectly spelled as an adjective, isabellum] (See ETYFish).
More on author: Bonnaterre.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 5 - 690 m (Ref. 26346). Subtropical; 33°S - 53°S, 165°E - 174°W
Southwest Pacific: endemic to New Zealand.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 100.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 26346)
Found in crevices and caves of rocky reefs during the day, but may move to adjacent sandy areas at night (Ref. 12951). Reported from 18 m to 220 m depth (Ref. 12951). Feeds on fishes and invertebrates (Ref. 12951). Adults segregate by sex (Ref. 12951). Oviparous (Ref. 50449). 244 cm record from New Zealand possibly due to confusion with another species (Ref. 244). Can expand itself with air or water (Ref. 244).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk (Ref. 50449). Deposits two tendril eggcases at a time. Young hatch at 16 cm (Ref. 12951).
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. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(4/2):251-655. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 244)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 7.9 - 14.9, mean 11.8 °C (based on 80 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00263 (0.00138 - 0.00502), b=3.21 (3.04 - 3.38), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 4.2 ±0.5 se; based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be <100).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): High vulnerability (60 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 5.97 [1.23, 31.31] mg/100g; Iron = 0.378 [0.099, 1.091] mg/100g; Protein = 19 [16, 22] %; Omega3 = 0.132 [0.054, 0.303] g/100g; Selenium = 19.6 [5.8, 59.3] μg/100g; VitaminA = 51.1 [17.4, 155.7] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.465 [0.217, 0.974] mg/100g (wet weight);
