Eridacnis radcliffei Smith, 1913
Pygmy ribbontail catshark
Eridacnis radcliffei
photo by FAO

Family:  Proscylliidae (Finback catsharks)
Max. size:  23 cm TL (male/unsexed); 24 cm TL (female)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 71 - 766 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: widely distributed but with spotty records from Tanzania, the Gulf of Aden, India (Gulf of Mannar, Bay of Bengal), Andaman Islands, Viet Nam, and the Philippines. The immense range of this species is striking compared to the limited ranges of other members of the genus.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. Caudal fin without a rippled dorsal margin and ventral lobe but with a strong subterminal notch; vertebral axis of caudal fin little raised above body axis (Ref. 13566). Dark brown with blackish markings on dorsal fins (Ref. 13566).
Biology:  Occurs over muddy bottoms, on the upper continental and insular slopes and outer shelves (Ref. 244). Feeds mainly on small bony fishes and crustaceans, with squid a lesser item in the diet (Ref. 244). One of the two smallest living sharks (Ref. 13566). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449), with 1 to 2 pups in a litter (Ref. 244).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 24 April 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Very common in southern India (Ref. 244); Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Ref. 118627). Also Ref. 13566.


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