Author: Chu and Hu, 1981
Field Marks:
An Apristurus with a pointed, angular prenasal snout, gill septa with short medial projections, first dorsal fin about half as large as second and with its origin over last quarter of pelvic bases.
Diagnostic Features:
Body relatively slender, trunk moderately tapering toward head. Snout moderately long, basally broad but distally pointed and angular, preoral snout about 10% of total length; gill slits moderate- sized, somewhat less than eye length; gill septa with small projecting medial lobes, without pleats and incised margins; eyes small in adults, about 3% of total length; nostrils broad, their width about equal to internarial space; incurrent and excurrent apertures fairly large and oval, anterior nasal flaps low and angular; mouth moderately long and large, broadly arched, with dental bands hardly expanded and with lower ones falling just behind uppers; mouth and labial furrows extending little in front of eyes; labial folds not enlarged, with lowers diagonal to body axis; mouth and teeth probably not enlarged in males. Interdorsal space about twice the first dorsal base, slightly less than preorbital snout; first dorsal fin about half as large as second, base of first dorsal about two-thirds of second; origin of first dorsal opposite last fourth of pelvic bases; second dorsal insertion well in front of anal insertion; pectoral fins rather small, anterior margins about 12% of total length; inner margins moderately long, about half the length of pectoral bases; interspace between pectoral and pelvic bases moderately long, slightly less than prebranchial length and about 16% of total length; pelvic fins low and subangular; anal fin long, fairly high, and angular, about four times as long as high, its base about equal to prebranchial space and about 17% of total length; caudal fin moderately broad but somewhat elongated, presence of dorsal crest of enlarged denticles uncertain. Lateral trunk denticles of body with crowns partly elevated and close-set, skin surface possibly with a feltlike or fuzzy texture. Colour dark, with no conspicuous markings. Adult size unknown.
Geographical Distribution:
Known only from the type locality, the South China Sea (off the Chinese coast?) in 537 m depth.
Habitat and Biology:
A poorly known catshark from the South China Sea in 537 m depth, presumably caught on or near the bottom.
Size:
The holotype and only known specimen is a 41.7 cm immature or adolescent male, so the species presumably reaches at least 50 cm or more total length.
Interest to Fisheries:
None.
Type material:
Holotype: South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, SCSFRS 00099, 417 mm, immature or adolescent male. Type Locality: South China Sea (off China ?) 537 m depth.