Dr. D. Ross Robertson, Panama
Info
Cat sharks owe their name to their large eyes, which resemble those of cats with their elongated pupils.
They also have a nictitating membrane, and their eyes are closed with the lower eyelid.
Scyliorhinus hesperius has a variable color pattern with seven to eight dark saddle patches with large light spots concentrated on the saddle patches.
The basic coloration of this shark is light brown on the back and paler on the belly.
The first dorsal fin begins behind the pelvic fins and is larger than the second dorsal fin.
Another characteristic feature are dark stripes under the eyes.
Reproduction:
Sharks can lay fertilized eggs, see: https://www.schutzstation-wattenmeer.de/aktuelles/news-beitrag/entdeckungen-mit-dem-beachexplorer/
or give birth to live young.
All known species of cat sharks are oviparous.
Pacific cat sharks have developed a special behavior: during low tide, they can use their pectoral fins to move across the partially exposed coral reefs.
Due to its deep-water distribution, Scyliorhinus hesperius is naturally unable to do this.
Etymology:
The species name “hesperius” comes from Latin and means “western,” while the Greek word “hesperos” means evening star, probably referring to its occurrence in the western Atlantic, the western Caribbean, and/or off the coast of western Panama.
They also have a nictitating membrane, and their eyes are closed with the lower eyelid.
Scyliorhinus hesperius has a variable color pattern with seven to eight dark saddle patches with large light spots concentrated on the saddle patches.
The basic coloration of this shark is light brown on the back and paler on the belly.
The first dorsal fin begins behind the pelvic fins and is larger than the second dorsal fin.
Another characteristic feature are dark stripes under the eyes.
Reproduction:
Sharks can lay fertilized eggs, see: https://www.schutzstation-wattenmeer.de/aktuelles/news-beitrag/entdeckungen-mit-dem-beachexplorer/
or give birth to live young.
All known species of cat sharks are oviparous.
Pacific cat sharks have developed a special behavior: during low tide, they can use their pectoral fins to move across the partially exposed coral reefs.
Due to its deep-water distribution, Scyliorhinus hesperius is naturally unable to do this.
Etymology:
The species name “hesperius” comes from Latin and means “western,” while the Greek word “hesperos” means evening star, probably referring to its occurrence in the western Atlantic, the western Caribbean, and/or off the coast of western Panama.
