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African ribbontail catshark

Eridacnis sinuans

  • Sharks and rays
  • IUCN: Least concern
  • Usual depth252–635 m
  • Water temperature23–29 °C
  • Best monthsJune
  • How commonRare
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About this species

The African ribbontail catshark, Eridacnis sinuans, is a finback catshark of the family Proscylliidae, found in the western Indian Ocean, from Tanzania, South Africa, and Mozambique, at depths between 180 and 480 m. It can grow up to a length of 37 cm.

Text from the Wikipedia article “African ribbontail catshark”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article

Where and when

Where it has been recorded

Worldwide

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Best months

Worldwide (open data)

  • January: 1 records
  • February: 0 records
  • March: 2 records
  • April: 0 records
  • May: 2 records
  • June: 9 records
  • July: 2 records
  • August: 0 records
  • September: 0 records
  • October: 1 records
  • November: 1 records
  • December: 0 records

Depth and water temperature

Depth

Mostly recorded at 252–635 m · Deepest record: 635 m

  • 250–260 m: 2 records
  • 260–270 m: 1 records
  • 270–280 m: 0 records
  • 280–290 m: 0 records
  • 290–300 m: 0 records
  • 300–310 m: 0 records
  • 310–320 m: 0 records
  • 320–330 m: 1 records
  • 330–340 m: 0 records
  • 340–350 m: 0 records
  • 350–360 m: 0 records
  • 360+ m: 5 records

Water temperature

Recorded in surface water of 23–29 °C

  • 22–24 °C: 7 records
  • 24–26 °C: 4 records
  • 26–28 °C: 8 records
  • 28–30 °C: 2 records

Names and classification

English
African ribbontail catshark
Names in 3 more languages
German
Afrikanischer Bandschwanz-Katzenhai
Spanish
Tollo Coludo Africano
French
Requin Chat Á Rubans

Other scientific names: Neotriakis sinuans

Similar species

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).
  • 21 open-data records from 1964 to 2008.
  • Species data updated November 2, 2026.

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