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Issue: Vol. 1318 No. 1: 21 Sept. 2006
Type: Articles
Published: 2006-09-21
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1318.1.2
Page range: 41–58
Abstract views: 72
PDF downloaded: 2

Description of Haploblepharus kistnasamyi, a new catshark (Chondrichthyes: Scyliorhinidae) from South Africa

Shark Research Centre, South African Museum, Iziko - Museums of Cape Town, PO Box 61 Cape Town 8000, South Africa
Shark Research Centre, South African Museum, Iziko - Museums of Cape Town, PO Box 61 Cape Town 8000, South Africa
Pisces Haploblepharus kistnasamyi sp. nov. Scyliorhinidae Carcharhiniformes taxonomy South Africa

Abstract

A new species of catshark, Haploblepharus kistnasamyi sp. nov. (Class Chondrichthyes, Order Carcharhiniformes, Family Scyliorhinidae) is described from kwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The type series includes the holotype, RUSI 39835, and two paratypes, RUSI 6075 and RUSI 6077. This species was previously recognised as a variant of H. edwardsii (Schinz 1822), which occurs along the southern coast of South Africa. The colour pattern of H. kistnasamyi is superficially similar to H. edwardsii although distinct; however H. kistnasamyi is distinguished from all other Haploblepharus in having a stockier build compared to its congeners, a less depressed head and trunk, and a compressed caudal peduncle.

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