Author: Maurin and Bonnet, 1970
Field Marks:
A fairly large, very stout catshark with relatively large, few, and scattered dark spots, dark saddles centred on dark spots on the midline of the back, and no white spots, small anterior nasal flaps that barely reach mouth, no nasoral grooves, labial furrows on lower jaw only, interdorsal space slightly less than anal base, second dorsal fin much smaller than first.
Diagnostic Features:
Body very stout, head broad and fairly flat, greatest width of head at least 2/3 of head length; no nasoral grooves; anterior nasal flaps not expanded and just reaching mouth. First dorsal origin slightly behind pelvic insertions; second dorsal origin over last third of pelvic bases; interdorsal space somewhat less than anal base. Denticles fairly large and erect, skin relatively rough. Colour pattern of scattered large and some small dark spots along body, 8 or 9 dusky saddle marks centred on dark spots on midback; no light spots. Size large, probably over 80 cm.
Geographical Distribution:
Eastern Atlantic: Probably wide-ranging off tropical West Africa, from Mauritania to Angola; records include Mauritania, Senegal, possibly Gambia to Guinea, possibly Liberia, possibly Gabon to Zaire, and Angola.
Habitat and Biology:
A little-known tropical bottomdwelling catshark of the continental shelf and upper slope, at depths of 45 to 500 m, on rocky and mud bottom; observed temperatures where caught, 11 to 16 C; salinity, 36 /oo; oxygen, 1.0 to 1.6 ml/l. Probably oviparous, egg-cases thought to be from this species were about 7 to 8 cm long by about 3 cm wide. Eats bony fish. May replace S. stellaris off tropical West Africa.
Size:
Maximum about 76 cm; adolescent male 64 cm, adult male 67 cm; females to at least 76 cm.
Interest to Fisheries:
Uncertain, probably taken by offshore trawling fleets off West Africa, but because this species has been confused with S. stellaris in the past fisheries data for it has probably been reported under stellaris.
Type material:
Holotype: 380 mm female. Type Locality: Senegal, eastern North Atlantic.