II: SCYLIORHINIDAE (CATSHARKS)
11.15 Poroderma pantherinum: top: 56 em immature female (SW Cape); bottom right: ventral view of head of 53 em immature male (Algoa Bay);
bottom left: 34 em immature male (Algoa Bay). N. T & d as in 2.1.
11.15 Poroderma pantherinum
(Smith, 1838)
PLATE 3
Leopard catshark
Luiperd-kathaai
Poroderma pantherinum Smith, 1837: 85 (name only; Cape of Good
Hope); Smith, SFSA No. 36*; Bass et aI., 1975: 30*; Springer, 1979: 114*.
Scyllium pantherinum Smith, in Muller & Henle, 1838: 13 (Cape of Good
Hope). Conoporoderma pantherinum: Smith & Smith, 1966: 25* .
The basic striped pattern of P. africanum is present in P.
pantherinum, particularly in specimens from the extremes
of the range, but breaks up with growth into small rosettes.
In the largest specimens virtually all trace of the original
stripes may disappear. Precaudal vertebrae 75-80. Presumably oviparous; matures at 54-58 cm (males) and 58-61 cm
(females); attains 71 cm. Abundant in Algoa Bay where it is
caught by shore-anglers and by trawlers in depths of up to
150 m. Also fairly common in East London but only 2
records from Natal. In the other direction, P. pantherinum
is found in shallow waters of the southwest Cape where it is
less common than P. africanum.
11.16 Scyliorhinus capensis: 86 em mature male (Algoa Bay). N. T & d as in 2.1.
Genus Scyliorhinus Blainville, 1816
Of the 13 species in this genus, only 1 occurs in our area.
11.16 Scy/iorhinus capensis
(Smith, 1838)
PLATE 3
Yellowspotted catshark
Geelspikkel-kathaai
Scyllium capense: Smith, 1837: 85 (name only); Smith, in Muller &
Henle, 1838: 11 (Cape of Good Hope). Scyliorhinus capensis: Smith,
SFSA No. 38*; Bass et aI., 1975: 32*; Springer, 1979: 132* .
Grey above, cream below, with dark saddles and pale yellow spots. Precaudal vertebrae 91-95. Oviparous; 2 eggcases at a time, hatches at about 30 cm; mature at about 6070 cm; attains at least 95 cm. Southwestern Cape, where it is
a common species in depths of 26 - 290 m, to Natal where a
single specimen was trawled at a depth of 420 m.
d
95
11.15 Poroderma pantherinum: top: 56 em immature female (SW Cape); bottom right: ventral view of head of 53 em immature male (Algoa Bay);
bottom left: 34 em immature male (Algoa Bay). N. T & d as in 2.1.
11.15 Poroderma pantherinum
(Smith, 1838)
PLATE 3
Leopard catshark
Luiperd-kathaai
Poroderma pantherinum Smith, 1837: 85 (name only; Cape of Good
Hope); Smith, SFSA No. 36*; Bass et aI., 1975: 30*; Springer, 1979: 114*.
Scyllium pantherinum Smith, in Muller & Henle, 1838: 13 (Cape of Good
Hope). Conoporoderma pantherinum: Smith & Smith, 1966: 25* .
The basic striped pattern of P. africanum is present in P.
pantherinum, particularly in specimens from the extremes
of the range, but breaks up with growth into small rosettes.
In the largest specimens virtually all trace of the original
stripes may disappear. Precaudal vertebrae 75-80. Presumably oviparous; matures at 54-58 cm (males) and 58-61 cm
(females); attains 71 cm. Abundant in Algoa Bay where it is
caught by shore-anglers and by trawlers in depths of up to
150 m. Also fairly common in East London but only 2
records from Natal. In the other direction, P. pantherinum
is found in shallow waters of the southwest Cape where it is
less common than P. africanum.
11.16 Scyliorhinus capensis: 86 em mature male (Algoa Bay). N. T & d as in 2.1.
Genus Scyliorhinus Blainville, 1816
Of the 13 species in this genus, only 1 occurs in our area.
11.16 Scy/iorhinus capensis
(Smith, 1838)
PLATE 3
Yellowspotted catshark
Geelspikkel-kathaai
Scyllium capense: Smith, 1837: 85 (name only); Smith, in Muller &
Henle, 1838: 11 (Cape of Good Hope). Scyliorhinus capensis: Smith,
SFSA No. 38*; Bass et aI., 1975: 32*; Springer, 1979: 132* .
Grey above, cream below, with dark saddles and pale yellow spots. Precaudal vertebrae 91-95. Oviparous; 2 eggcases at a time, hatches at about 30 cm; mature at about 6070 cm; attains at least 95 cm. Southwestern Cape, where it is
a common species in depths of 26 - 290 m, to Natal where a
single specimen was trawled at a depth of 420 m.
d
95