Myxini (hagfishes) >
Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks) >
Dichichthyidae ()
Etymology: Dichichthys: Name from the combination of the Greek 'dicho'- meaning 'to branch in two' and 'ichthys' for 'fish', with this genus being intermediate between the Galeus-Parmaturus complex and Apristurus.; melanobranchus: melanos (Gr.), black; branchos (Gr.), gill, referring to blackish color on gill septa. (See ETYFish).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 540 - 810 m (Ref. 244). Deep-water; 21°N - 18°N
Northwest Pacific: known from only 3 specimens taken in the South China Sea. Collected less than a degree north of the northwestern boundary of the Western Central Pacific (Ref. 11146).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 85.0 cm TL (female)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Light brown with distal parts and anterior margins of fins, snout, nostrils, and gills blackish brown in young, possibly uniform blackish brown in adults (Ref. 11146).
A poorly known deep-water bottom-dwelling catshark found on mud bottoms of the upper continental slopes (Ref. 11146). Oviparous (Ref. 50449).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Oviparous, paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk (Ref. 50449).
Compagno, L.J.V., 1984. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 2 - Carcharhiniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(4/2):251-655. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 244)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5010 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00355 (0.00176 - 0.00714), b=3.09 (2.91 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 4.0 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be <100).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate to high vulnerability (54 of 100).