Author: (Ribeiro, 1907)
Field Marks:
A small, slender, dark-saddled catshark with very small black spots outlining saddles and generally covering dorsal surface, small anterior nasal flaps that do not reach mouth, no nasoral grooves, labial furrows on lower jaw only, second dorsal fin much smaller than first.
Diagnostic Features:
Head and body relatively deep, slender and narrow; greatest width of head about 2/3 of head length; no nasoral grooves; anterior nasal flaps not expanded and falling just short of mouth. First dorsal origin somewhat behind pelvic insertions; second dorsal origin somewhat anterior to anal insertion; interdorsal space slightly greater than anal base. Denticles small and flat, surface of skin relatively smooth. Colour pattern of 7 or 8 dusky and sometimes obscure saddles, outlined by very small black spots which are also generally scattered over the dorsal surface; no light spots. Size small, adults below 40 cm.
Geographical Distribution:
Western Atlantic: Western Venezuela, Surinam, Brazil, Uruguay.
Habitat and Biology:
A little-known tropical Atlantic South American catshark of the continental shelf and upper slope, on or near bottom, at depths of 37 to 402 m. Oviparous, deposits eggs in cases 6 to 7 cm long and 2 to 3 cm wide, which have been trawled on coral and sea-fan covered bottom.
Size:
To at least 35 cm (adult male); hatchling young 10 to 13 cm long.
Interest to Fisheries:
None at present.
Remarks:
This catshark was synonymized with S. boa by Bigelow and Schroeder (1948), considered a subspecies of S. retifer by Springer and Sadowsky (1970), but later resurrected as a full species by Springer (1979).
Type material:
Holotype: Museo Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, MNB 494, 316 mm immature male. Type Locality: Western South Atlantic, off liha Rasa, near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 80 m depth.