Author: (Fowler, 1934)
Field Marks:
One of several Apristurus with the first dorsal fin half the area of the second or less. For other characters see diagnostic features and key to species.
Diagnostic Features:
Body slender, / tapering gradually to head. Snout long, very broad, and bell-shaped, preoral snout about 8 11% of total length; gill slits small, much less than eye length; gill septa without projecting medial lobes or pleats but deeply incised; eyes small, about 4% of total length; nostrils broad, their width about equal to internarial space; incurrent and excurrent apertures small and oval, anterior nasal flaps low and angular; mouth short, moderately large, and very broadly arched, with dental bands not expanded and with lower ones falling just behind uppers; mouth and labial furrows below eyes; labial folds not enlarged, with lowers diagonal to body axis. Interdorsal space about a third greater than first dorsal base, two-thirds of preorbital snout; first dorsal fin about half the area of second, base of first about three-fourths the length of second; origin of first dorsal slightly behind pelvic insertions; second dorsal insertion well in front of anal insertion; pectoral fins rather small, anterior margins about 12% of total length; inner margins long, nearly length of pectoral bases; interspace between pectoral and pelvic bases short, slightly less than preorbital length and about 10% of total length; pelvic fins low and angular; anal fin moderately long, low and angular, slightly more than 4 times as long as high, its base about equal to prebranchial space and 18% of total length; caudal fin elongated and fairly broad, without a crest of enlarged denticles on dorsal caudal margin. Lateral trunk denticles of body with crowns fairly flat and close-set, surface fairly smooth and not with a feltlike or fuzzy texture. Colour dark brown without conspicuous white margins on fins. Adult size unknown.
Geographical Distribution:
Known only from the type locality (Sipadan Island, vicinity of Sibuko Bay, southern Sulawesi (Celebes).
Habitat and Biology:
A rare, deepwater catshark, known only from the holotype.
Size:
Over 29.7 cm maximum.
Interest to Fisheries:
None.
Remarks:
The above account and illustration is based on the writer's examination of the holotype. Springer (1979) noted that this species may be a synonym of A. platyrhynchus, but hesitated to synonymize it; A. verweyi is provisionally retained here.
Type material:
Holotype: U.S. National Museum 93135, 297 mm immature male. Type Locality: 4°10.5'N, 118°37.1'E, Sipadan Island, vicinity of Sibuko Bay, southern Sulawesi.