114 Commercial Shark Fishing in the Caribbean Area 



Figure 40 



Family Scyliorhinidae, Cat Sharks. Only five gill openings ; two 

 dorsal fins (rarely only one dorsal) and an anal, the first dorsal 

 overlapping the pelvics ; the caudal much less than 1/2 the total 

 length of the shark, its axis raised but little, without a definite 

 lower lobe. Sides of the trunk without long ridges; fourth or fourth 

 and fifth gill openings over the origin of the pectoral fin, nostril 

 does not have a well-developed barbel. Teeth small, numerous, 

 similar in the two jaws, with three or more cusps, and several 

 series in service simultaneously. 



These little sharks (all the species are small) are interesting 

 chiefly for the fact that all of them (so far as known) lay horny- 

 shelled eggs. Six species are known from the West Indian region, 

 all of them confined to moderately deep water and none of them 

 are plentiful. 



Figure 40. One species, Scyliorhinus torrei, is pictured here to 

 facilitate identification, should any of them be caught. 



