Shark
Banded Catshark
Halaelurus lineatus
A small, slender bottom shark marked with dark bars and spots, endemic to the KZN and Eastern Cape coast.
Also known as catshark banded, lined catshark
- Typical size
- Commonly 40-55 cm
- Habitat
- Sand and reef on the inshore shelf
- Depth
- Shallow inshore to about 100 m
The banded catshark, or lined catshark, is a small, slim shark with an upturned snout and a yellowish-brown body crossed by narrow dark bars that break into rows of spots. It is a South African endemic living on the bottom over sand and reef along the KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape coasts.
Harmless to divers, it feeds on small fish, crustaceans and cephalopods, and lays egg cases anchored to the seabed. Rarely seen by day, it is more active at night. It is taken incidentally by shore and bottom anglers and is of no danger to people.