Coral Cat Shark

Coral Cat Shark (Atelomycterus marmoratus) 

The Coral Catshark is generally reclusive and inactive during the day but becomes more active at dusk and night when it forages for small, bottom-dwelling invertebrates and bony fishes. Its slender shape allows it to navigate tight spaces within the reef. This shark is oviparous, with females laying purse-shaped egg capsules two at a time on the seafloor, from which the young hatch after 4 to 6 months. The Coral Catshark is a small, harmless species that adapts well to captivity and has been successfully bred in aquariums, making it a popular choice for private aquarists. The Coral Catshark features a slender, cylindrical body and a short, narrow head. Its snout is compact and slightly flattened with a blunt tip. The eyes are horizontally oval and shielded by rudimentary nictitating membranes, with moderate-sized spiracles located behind them. Large nostrils are mostly covered by broad, triangular skin flaps, leaving small incurrent and excurrent openings. These nasal flaps extend to the mouth, obscuring broad grooves that connect the excurrent openings to the mouth.