Author: (Bigelow and Schroeder, 1944)
Field Marks:
A dwarf, slender sharklet with an anal fin and two equal-sized, spineless dorsal fins, first dorsal fin over abdomen and slightly closer to pelvic fins than pectorals, preoral snout less than 1.5 times the mouth length, nictitating eyelids, a triangular mouth, very short labial furrows, comblike posterior teeth, short anterior nasal flaps that do not reach mouth, no nasoral grooves or barbels, a long, narrow, ribbonlike caudal fin with faint dark banding, and light grey coloration.
Diagnostic Features:
Preoral snout less than 1.5 times mouth length; labial furrows very short. Dorsal fins small and low, with anterior margin of first dorsal at a low angle to body axis; anal fin height over half dorsal heights; junction of preventral and postventral caudal margins angular. Lateral trunk denticles narrow-crowned and with long, narrow cusps. Colour light grey.
Geographical Distribution:
Apparently confined to a limited area in the western North Atlantic in the Florida Straits and off the north coast of Cuba.
Habitat and Biology:
A common, small subtropical bottom shark of the upper continental and insular slopes at depths of 430 to 613 m. Ovoviviparous, number of young two in a litter. Food habits not reported, but probably feeds on small fishes, crustaceans and cephalopods.
Size:
Maximum about 34 cm; males mature at about 27 cm and females 28 cm; size at birth over 10 cm.
Interest to Fisheries:
None at present.
Type material:
Holotype: Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard, MCZ-36099, 283 mm adult male. Type Locality: Off Santa Clara Province, north coast of Cuba.