The beige catshark (''Parmaturus bigus'') is a cat shark of the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Scyliorhinidae, The first recorded specimen was a female recorded off the coast of

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , establishe ...

, Australia around

Lord Howe Island Lord Howe Island (; formerly Lord Howe's Island) is an irregularly crescent-shaped volcanic remnant in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, part of the Australian state of New South Wales. It lies directly east of mainland P ...

. Its length was 72 cm. Recently, a number of both male and female specimens (unpublished data) were captured in the waters off

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

, at the edge of the EEZ ( exclusive economic zone). To date, very little is known about the

ecology Ecology () is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment. Ecology considers organisms at the individual, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere level. Ecology overl ...

of this species. Scientists are currently studying the

sensory system The sensory nervous system is a part of the nervous system responsible for processing sensory information. A sensory system consists of sensory neurons (including the sensory receptor cells), neural pathways, and parts of the brain involved i ...

s of this catshark in order to reveal information about its ecology and ultimately behaviour. The reproduction of the beige catshark is oviparous.

References

* Compagno, Dando, & Fowler, ''Sharks'', Collins Gem, HarperCollins, London 2006 beige catshark Fauna of Queensland Marine fish of Eastern Australia beige catshark {{shark-stub