MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) | Deep-sea catsharks are the largest family of living sharks @MBARIvideo | Uploaded September 2022 | Updated October 2024, 19 hours ago.
Deep-sea catsharks are the largest family of living sharks, with more than 90 species. Catsharks were named for their long, cat-like eyes that are specialized for seeing in low light conditions. MBARI has observed several deep-sea catshark species, for example, the brown catshark (Apristurus brunneus), longnose catshark (Apristurus kampae), lollipop catshark (Cephalurus cephalus), and filetail catshark (Parmaturus xaniurus). Most catsharks lay elaborate clusters of egg cases. The eggs can take up to two years to develop. Tough egg cases made of keratin protect the developing embryos from predators. A changing ocean means an uncertain future for catsharks. Warming waters could affect developing embryos, and expanding low-oxygen zones could displace adult populations.
Common name: Catsharks
Scientific name: Family Pentanchidae
Reported depth range: 30 meters-2,200 meters (100-7,200 feet)
Size: to 90 centimeters (3 feet)
Explore MBARI’s Animals of the Deep gallery: mbari.co/AnimalsOfTheDeep
Editor: Ted Blanco
Writer: Megan Bassett
Production team: Larissa Lemon, Kyra Schlining, Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Susan von Thun
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Deep-sea catsharks are the largest family of living sharks, with more than 90 species. Catsharks were named for their long, cat-like eyes that are specialized for seeing in low light conditions. MBARI has observed several deep-sea catshark species, for example, the brown catshark (Apristurus brunneus), longnose catshark (Apristurus kampae), lollipop catshark (Cephalurus cephalus), and filetail catshark (Parmaturus xaniurus). Most catsharks lay elaborate clusters of egg cases. The eggs can take up to two years to develop. Tough egg cases made of keratin protect the developing embryos from predators. A changing ocean means an uncertain future for catsharks. Warming waters could affect developing embryos, and expanding low-oxygen zones could displace adult populations.
Common name: Catsharks
Scientific name: Family Pentanchidae
Reported depth range: 30 meters-2,200 meters (100-7,200 feet)
Size: to 90 centimeters (3 feet)
Explore MBARI’s Animals of the Deep gallery: mbari.co/AnimalsOfTheDeep
Editor: Ted Blanco
Writer: Megan Bassett
Production team: Larissa Lemon, Kyra Schlining, Nancy Jacobsen Stout, Susan von Thun
Follow MBARI on social media:
Facebook: facebook.com/MBARInews
Twitter: twitter.com/MBARI_News
Instagram: instagram.com/mbari_news
Tumblr: mbari-blog.tumblr.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mbari-monterey-bay-aquarium-research-institute-580a24169
And now, TikTok: tiktok.com/@mbari_news
