Cirrhoscyllium expolitum

Author: Smith and Radcliffe, 1913

Field Marks:
Barbels on throat, nasoral grooves, mouth in front of eyes, ten saddle marks on dorsal surface, first dorsal origin over pelvic free rear tips, anal insertion below second dorsal midbase.

Diagnostic Features:
First dorsal origin over pelvic free rear tips, closer to snout tip than subterminal notch; anal insertion below midbase of second dorsal, free rear tip reaches second dorsal insertion, anal base about equal to distance from anal insertion to lower caudal origin. Colour: trunk, tail, and caudal fin with about ten dark saddles.

Geographical Distribution:
Western North Pacific: China Sea between Luzon, Philippines, and China.

Habitat and Biology:
A little-known tropical bottom shark of the continental shelf of the China Sea, offshore on or near the bottom at 183 m depth. Probably oviparous, judging from large nidamental gland, but eggs are not known. Food habits unknown.

Size:
The adult female holotype and only known specimen is 33.5 cm long.

Interest to Fisheries:
Unknown.

Type material:
Holotype: US National Museum of Natural History USNM-74603, 335 mm female..Type Locality: China Sea between northern Luzon, Philippines, and China, 21° 33'N, 118°13'E, 183 m.

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