Flaccid catshark
Species of shark
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The flaccid catshark (Apristurus exsanguis) is a shark of the family Pentanchidae. It is endemic to the waters around New Zealand.
| Flaccid catshark | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Division: | Selachii |
| Order: | Carcharhiniformes |
| Family: | Pentanchidae |
| Genus: | Apristurus |
| Species: | A. exsanguis |
| Binomial name | |
| Apristurus exsanguis | |
 | |
Distribution
This species is found only around New Zealand, although its collection records indicate it is widespread and probably continuously distributed over the mid- to lower slope around New Zealand.[2]: 80 The biology of all Apristurus species within the New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone is very poorly known, due to the uncertain taxonomy of the group.[2]: 75 They appear to be most abundant below 1,000 m, and are the only sharks regularly taken in research trawls below 1,200 m on the Chatham Rise.[2]: 80 As relatively little fishing occurs below 1,200 m, a large part of their population may be effectively beyond fishing depths.[3]
Conservation status
The New Zealand Department of Conservation has classified the flaccid catshark as "Data deficient" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[4]