The beige catshark (Dichichthys bigus),[2] or beige bristle shark, is a bristle shark of the family Dichichthyidae, The first recorded specimen was a female recorded off the coast of Queensland, Australia around Lord Howe Island. Its length was 72 cm.

Beige catshark
Preserved holotype of a female Dichichthys bigus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Dichichthyidae
Genus: Dichichthys
Species:
D. bigus
Binomial name
Dichichthys bigus
(Séret & Last, 2007)
Synonyms
  • Parmaturus bigus Séret & Last, 2007

Recently, a number of both male and female specimens (unpublished data) were captured in the waters off New Zealand, at the edge of the EEZ (exclusive economic zone). In 2024, the first footage of this shark was captured by the ROV SuBastian during Coral Sea surveys at Southern Small Detached Reef, Queensland.[3] To date, very little is known about the ecology of this species. Scientists are currently studying the sensory systems of this catshark in order to reveal information about its ecology and ultimately behaviour. The reproduction of the beige catshark is oviparous.

References

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  1. ^ Kyne, P.M.; Cavanagh, R.D.; Valenti, S. (2016). "Parmaturus bigus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T42718A70709684. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T42718A70709684.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. ^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Dichichthys". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  3. ^ White, William T.; Stewart, Andrew L.; O'Neill, Helen L.; Naylor, Gavin J. P. "Dichichthyidae, a New Family of Deepwater Sharks (Carcharhiniformes) from the Indo–West Pacific, with Description of a New Species". MDPI. Retrieved 28 March 2024.