Coral Catshark Research Paper

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There are nearly 400 different types of sharks that have been identified to this day, yet there are still new sharks being recognized every day. Atelomycterus marmoratus, also known as the coral catshark, is a member of the scyliorhinidae family, which is the largest shark family. The coral catshark belongs to the animalia kingdom, chondrichthyes class, elasmobranchii subclass, and the A. marmoratus species. Another common name for the coral catshark is the marbled catshark, which came from the original name, Scyllium Marmoratum. (Marmoratum being Latin for marbled) The life of the coral catshark is exposed and defined by looking in to the physical description, habitat and adaptations, feeding behavior, life history, and conservation status and threats. …show more content…

Coral catsharks can grow up to nearly 70 cm in length. They have a small head, catlike eyes, short tail, ten gill slits, a lean body, and two spineless dorsal fins that slant backwards. Coral catshark’s “enlarged branchial (gill) regions enable them to survive very low oxygen levels, high temperatures, and high salinity”. (“Descriptions and”) They are very easy to distinguish due to the white underbody and large quantities of black and white spots that cover the shark from snout to tail. Researchers believe that these sharks reach sexual maturity once they reach 50cm in length. Unlike most sharks, coral catsharks are oviparous. Instead of having a live birth, female’s lay two eggs on the ocean floor, which hatch anywhere from four to six months

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