Galeus melastomus Rafinesque, 1810
Blackmouth catshark
photo by Svensen, R.

Family:  Pentanchidae (Deepwater catsharks)
Max. size:  75 cm TL (male/unsexed); 90 cm TL (female); max.weight: 1,370.0 g
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 55 - 1873 m
Distribution:  Northeast Atlantic: Faeroe Islands and Trondheim, Norway southward to Senegal. Mediterranean Sea.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Depth range is reported at 55m-1200m in Ref. 9996. Found on the outer continental shelves and upper slopes. Feeds mainly on bottom invertebrates, including shrimps and cephalopods, but also on small pelagic bony fishes (lanternfishes) and other small elasmobranchs. Oviparous, with up to 13 eggs present in the oviducts at one time. Individuals from the Ionian Sea apparently reproduces from end of February to September and eggs are laid between 200 and 600 meters (Ref. 87978). Utilized fresh and dried-salted for human consumption, and for leather.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 31 August 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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