DiscoverSpeciesSharks and rays
Blackgill Bristle Shark
Dichichthys melanobranchus
- Usual depth688–848 m
- Water temperature26–29 °C
- Best monthsNovember
- How commonRare
About this species
The blackgill catshark or blackgill bristle shark is a deep water bristle shark known from very few specimens, found on or near the bottom on the continental slope, at 540–835 metres (1,772–2,740 ft) off the coasts of China and Japan. Specimens can attain a total length of at least 85 cm (33 in), have elongated cat-like eyes, and have two small dorsal fins set far back. They're oviparous and lay one egg at a time. This shark is a potential bycatch of deep water bottom-trawl fisheries operating within its range, but no specific information is available. In the upper jaw, there are rods of blunt, flat teeth with 3 cusps, likely used for crushing, as well as row of sharper teeth with the mid, central cusp longer and to a point. The bottom teeth are sharp, pointed, jagged and have three cusps, with the middle cusp slightly longer than the surrounding two.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Blackgill catshark”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article
Where and when
Where it has been recorded
Worldwide
Loading the map
Best months
Worldwide (open data)
- January: 0 records
- February: 0 records
- March: 0 records
- April: 0 records
- May: 0 records
- June: 0 records
- July: 0 records
- August: 0 records
- September: 0 records
- October: 0 records
- November: 1 records
- December: 0 records
Depth and water temperature
Depth
Mostly recorded at 688–848 m · Deepest record: 847.5 m
Water temperature
Recorded in surface water of 26–29 °C
Names and classification
- English
- Blackgill Bristle Shark, Blackgill Catshark
Names in 2 more languages
- German
- Schwarzkiemen-Katzenhai
- Japanese
- Shinkaiimorizame, シンカイイモリザメ
Other scientific names: Figaro melanobranchus, Figaro piceus, Galeus piceus, Parmaturus melanobranchius, Parmaturus melanobranchus
Sources and credits
Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).
- Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
- Descriptions: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA, each linked to its article.
- Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
- 10 open-data records from 1980 to 1980.
- Species data updated November 2, 2026.
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