I(}- d
11.7 Ha/ae/urus nata/ensls: 44 em mature female (Algoa Bay). T & d as in 2.1.
11.7 Halaelurus natalensis
(Regan. 1904)
PLATE 3
Tiger catshark
Tier-kathaai
Scyllium natalense Regan. 1904: 128 (Natal). Halaelurus natalensis:
Smith. SFSA No. 40* (part); Smith &·Smith. 1966: 26*; Bass et al.. 1975:
14* ; Springer. 1979: 83*.
Basic colour yellow-brown, cream below, with dark
brown dorsal saddles. Oviparous; up to 11 egg-cases per
female; mature at 35-40 cm; attains 47 cm. Eats crustaceans
and fish. Known only from Saldanha Bay to Algoa Bay
from the shore out to at least 125 m. The type-locality appears to have been in error, for no further specimens have
been found in Natal waters.
Genus Hap/ob/epharus Garman, 1913
The 3 species of the genus Haploblepharus are difficult to
distinguish except by the colour patterns described in the
key. All are endemic to our area. They are distinguished
from all other local sharks except Scylliogaleus quecketti
(Family Carcharhinidae) by the presence of deep grooves
connecting the nostrils to the mouth, together with an absence of nasal barbels. S. quecketti is easily separated by
<> d
11.8 Hap/oblepharus edwardsll: 48 em mature female (Natal). T & d as in 2.1.
11 : SCYLIORHINIDAE (CA TSHARKS)
having a plain coloration and a first dorsal set far forward in
comparison to that of Haploblepharus species.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Pale brown. virtually plain, at most a faint
suggestion of dorsal saddles .. .... ............. ....... .. .... ....... H. fuscus
Ib Body and head with distinct series of dark saddles,
sometimes obscured by a dark background colour ......... .. ......... 2
23 Saddles with noticeably darker margins at front
and back; numerous pale spots on saddles, most of
these no larger than spiracles; overall colour pale
yellow-brown, saddles always clearly visible .. .. ......... H. edwardsii
2b Saddles not bordered front and back with darker
margins; pale spots on saddles not numerous, mostly
larger than spiracles; overall colour dark brown,
sometimes obscuring the saddles ........ ...... .... .... .. ........ H. pictus
11.8 Haploblepharus edwards;;
(Voight, 1832)
PLATE 3
Puffaddershyshark
Pofadder-skaamoog
Scyllium D'Edwards Cuvier, 1816: 124 (Cape). Scyllium edwardsii
Voight. 1832: 504. Haploblepharus edwardsii: Smith, 1953: 512. No. 39a*;
Smith & Smith, 1966: 27*; Bass et aI., 1975: 17*; Springer, 1979: 88*.
91
11.7 Ha/ae/urus nata/ensls: 44 em mature female (Algoa Bay). T & d as in 2.1.
11.7 Halaelurus natalensis
(Regan. 1904)
PLATE 3
Tiger catshark
Tier-kathaai
Scyllium natalense Regan. 1904: 128 (Natal). Halaelurus natalensis:
Smith. SFSA No. 40* (part); Smith &·Smith. 1966: 26*; Bass et al.. 1975:
14* ; Springer. 1979: 83*.
Basic colour yellow-brown, cream below, with dark
brown dorsal saddles. Oviparous; up to 11 egg-cases per
female; mature at 35-40 cm; attains 47 cm. Eats crustaceans
and fish. Known only from Saldanha Bay to Algoa Bay
from the shore out to at least 125 m. The type-locality appears to have been in error, for no further specimens have
been found in Natal waters.
Genus Hap/ob/epharus Garman, 1913
The 3 species of the genus Haploblepharus are difficult to
distinguish except by the colour patterns described in the
key. All are endemic to our area. They are distinguished
from all other local sharks except Scylliogaleus quecketti
(Family Carcharhinidae) by the presence of deep grooves
connecting the nostrils to the mouth, together with an absence of nasal barbels. S. quecketti is easily separated by
<> d
11.8 Hap/oblepharus edwardsll: 48 em mature female (Natal). T & d as in 2.1.
11 : SCYLIORHINIDAE (CA TSHARKS)
having a plain coloration and a first dorsal set far forward in
comparison to that of Haploblepharus species.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Pale brown. virtually plain, at most a faint
suggestion of dorsal saddles .. .... ............. ....... .. .... ....... H. fuscus
Ib Body and head with distinct series of dark saddles,
sometimes obscured by a dark background colour ......... .. ......... 2
23 Saddles with noticeably darker margins at front
and back; numerous pale spots on saddles, most of
these no larger than spiracles; overall colour pale
yellow-brown, saddles always clearly visible .. .. ......... H. edwardsii
2b Saddles not bordered front and back with darker
margins; pale spots on saddles not numerous, mostly
larger than spiracles; overall colour dark brown,
sometimes obscuring the saddles ........ ...... .... .... .. ........ H. pictus
11.8 Haploblepharus edwards;;
(Voight, 1832)
PLATE 3
Puffaddershyshark
Pofadder-skaamoog
Scyllium D'Edwards Cuvier, 1816: 124 (Cape). Scyllium edwardsii
Voight. 1832: 504. Haploblepharus edwardsii: Smith, 1953: 512. No. 39a*;
Smith & Smith, 1966: 27*; Bass et aI., 1975: 17*; Springer, 1979: 88*.
91