Author: (Jordan and Richardson, 1909)

Field Marks:
A Galeus with black-tipped dorsal and caudal fins.

Diagnostic Features:
Precaudal tail somewhat compressed at base. Snout moderately long and pointed, preoral length about 6 to 7% of total length; prenarial snout less than eye length; eyes virtuaily lateral on head, subocular ridges obsolete; mouth fairly large and long, broadly arched, its width 6.2 to 9.1% of total length; labial furrows moderately long, not confined to mouth corners. Pelvic fins small, low and angular; interspace between pelvic and anal bases much shorter than anal base; anal base long, 12 to 15% of total length, less than or slightly greater than interdorsal space; origin just behind first dorsal insertion; no subcaudal crest of enlarged denticles on preventral caudal margin. No colour pattern of dark saddle blotches on body and caudal fin; dorsal fins and caudal tip with black terminal marking; mouth lining light. Monospondylous precaudal centra 31 to 34. Size small to moderate, adults up to about 40 cm.

Geographical Distribution:
Western North Pacific: China (Taiwan Island only), possibly the Philippines and Japan.

Habitat and Biology:
A little-known bottom-dwelling catshark of the continental shelves, offshore at depths of 60 to 90 m in the Taiwan 31 Straits, but possibly deeper elsewhere. Apparently oviparous.

Size:
Maximum 45 cm, adult males 36 to 38 cm, adult females 42 to 45 cm.

Interest to Fisheries:
Limited, taken by bottom trawlers in Taiwan Straits.

Type material:
Syntypes: Of 6 specimens mentioned in the original description of this species, 4 are apparently still extant: Stanford University, SU 21261, 4 adult males, 364, 367 (2) and 370 mm long. Type Locality: Takao (Taiwan Island).

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Superclass Gnathostomata
Class Chondrichthyes
Subclass Elasmobranchii
Superorder Galeomorphii
Order Carcharhiniformes
Family Scyliorhinidae
Genus Galeus
Species Galeus sauteri

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Accepted name: Galeus sauteri (Jordan & Richardson, 1909)

Scientific synonyms and common names

Galeus sauteri (Jordan and Richardson, 1909)

Pristiurus sauteri Jordan and Richardson, 1909, Mem.Carnegie Mus., 4(4):160, pl. 63, fig. 1.

Synonymy: None.

FAO Names:
Blacktip sawtail catshark [English]
Chien lime [French]
Pintarroja rabonegro [Spanish]
SCYL Gal 9 [FAO Code]

Fowler, H.W., 1941. The fishes of the groups Elasmobranchii, Holocephali, Isospondyli, and Ostariophysi obtained by US Bureau of Fishing Steamer ALBATROSS. Bull.U.S.Natl.Mus., 100(13):879 p.

Teng, Huo-Tu, 1962. Classification and distribution of the Chondrichthys of Taiwan. Taipei, Taiwan, 304 p.

Chen, J.T.F., 1963. A review of the sharks of Taiwan. Biol.Bull.Dep.Biol.Coll.Sci.Tunghai Univ.(lchthyol.Ser. 1), (19):102 p.

Nakaya, K., 1975. Taxonomy, comparative anatomy and phylogeny of Japanese catsharks, Scyliorhinidae. Mem.Fac. Fish.Hokkaido Univ., 23(1):1-94

Springer, S., 1979. A revision of the catsharks, Family Scyliorhinidae. NOAA Tech.Rep.NMFS Circ., (422):97 p.

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