The New Zealand catshark (Bythaelurus dawsoni) is a catshark of the family Scyliorhinidae in the order Carcharhiniformes.[2] This species is endemic to in the deep waters around New Zealand.[3][4] Its length is up to 45 centimetres (18 in).[2] The New Zealand catshark is a small, little-known deep water bottom shark. It is dark brown around the top with a few widely spaced pale spots, and white below. It feeds on bottom-living crustaceans. It is also completely harmless to humans.[2]
| New Zealand catshark | |
|---|---|
.gif) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Subdivision: | Selachimorpha |
| Order: | Carcharhiniformes |
| Family: | Scyliorhinidae |
| Genus: | Bythaelurus |
| Species: | B. dawsoni |
| Binomial name | |
| Bythaelurus dawsoni (S. Springer, 1971) | |
| Synonyms | |
Halaelurus dawsoni Springer, 1971 | |
Conservation status
The New Zealand Department of Conservation has classified the New Zealand catshark as "Not Threatened" but with the qualifier "Data Poor" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[5] It is regarded as being at risk from bottom trawling.[3]