Cephalurus cephalus (Gilbert, 1892)
Lollipop catshark
photo by FAO

Family:  Pentanchidae (Deepwater catsharks)
Max. size:  28 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 155 - 927 m
Distribution:  Eastern Central Pacific: southern Baja California, Mexico and Gulf of California. Cephalurus specimens from Panama, Peru and Chile differ from Cephalurus cephalus and may represent one or more new species.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Found on the upper continental slope and outermost shelf. The expanded branchial region of this shark suggests that they are adapted to bottom areas with low dissolved oxygen levels. With little information available, reproductive mode could either be ovoviviparous (Ref. 244, 53776) or oviparous, paired eggs are laid (Ref. 50449).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 06 February 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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