Lizard catshark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lizard catshark |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Schroederichthys
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| Species: |
saurisqualus
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The lizard catshark (Schroederichthys saurisqualus) is a small shark species. It belongs to the catshark family, called Scyliorhinidae. You can find this shark off the coast of southern Brazil. It lives on the upper part of the continental shelf, deep in the ocean.
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About the Lizard Catshark
The lizard catshark is a small shark. Males can grow up to about 59 centimeters (23 inches) long. Females are a bit larger, reaching up to 69 centimeters (27 inches).
This shark looks a lot like the slender catshark (Schroederichthys tenuis). But you can tell them apart! The lizard catshark has white spots on its body. It also has a longer space between its two dorsal fins. Plus, the distance between its pelvic and anal fins is longer.
The skin of the lizard catshark feels rough. This is because of tiny, rounded, tooth-like scales called dermal denticles. The slender catshark has pointed ones. The lizard catshark also has more bones in its backbone, about 122. The slender catshark only has around 110.
Where They Live and Their Home
The lizard catshark lives in the Atlantic Ocean. You can find it off the coast of Brazil in South America. It prefers the upper part of the continental slope. This is where the land under the ocean starts to slope down steeply.
These sharks live in deep water, usually between 250 and 500 meters (820 to 1,640 feet) deep. They like areas with deepwater reefs. These reefs are home to many interesting sea creatures. You might find corals, tall tube sponges, fan-like gorgonians, crinoids (also called sea lilies), and brittle stars. Often, many freckled catsharks (Scyliorhinus haeckelii) share the same habitat.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The lizard catshark lays eggs. It usually lays them in pairs. These eggs are inside special capsules. The capsules are greyish-green and have stringy, hair-like parts on the outside.
Inside these capsules, the baby sharks grow. They get all their food from the egg yolk. When they are ready, they hatch out of the capsule. They look like tiny versions of the adult sharks.
Protecting the Lizard Catshark
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has looked at the lizard catshark. They have listed it as a "vulnerable species". This means it is at risk of becoming endangered.
There are a few reasons why this shark is vulnerable. First, there aren't many of them in total. Second, they only live in a small area, about 600 kilometers (370 miles) of coastline.
A big problem for them is trawling. This is a type of fishing where large nets are dragged along the ocean floor. The lizard catshark lays its eggs in coral patches. These coral areas can be easily damaged by trawling nets. The water in these deep areas is very cold, usually 5 to 8 degrees Celsius (41 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit). Because it's so cold, the coral grows back very slowly after it's damaged.
To help protect these sharks, the IUCN suggests stopping trawling. They recommend no more trawling on the lower continental shelf and the upper slope of the reefs. This would help prevent the lizard catshark population from declining further.
