Family Scyliorhinidae

Cat Sharks

Selected Characters: Two dorsal fins placed far back, with origin of first dorsal even with or behind pelvic fin origin; large spiracles; precaudal pit absent; head flat.

This is a large family of at least 96 species, occurring in temperate and tropical oceans. They tend to be small bottom-dwellers which feed on a wide variety of fishes and invertebrates. Our single Puget Sound species, the Brown Cat Shark, grows to 70 cm long. It is an oviparous species whose egg cases are light brown and about 5 cm by 2 cm, with long tendrils. This shark is moderately common in Puget Sound, but as a deepwater species is rarely encountered except when taken unintentionally in trawls, traps or on longlines.

Puget Sound Species

Apristurus brunneus Brown Cat Shark