Flaccid catshark

The flaccid catshark (Apristurus exsanguis) is a shark of the family Pentanchidae. It is endemic to the waters around New Zealand.

Flaccid catshark
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Chondrichthyes
Subclass:	Elasmobranchii
Division:	Selachii
Order:	Carcharhiniformes
Family:	Pentanchidae
Genus:	Apristurus
Species:	A. exsanguis
Binomial name
Apristurus exsanguis Sato, Nakaya & A. L. Stewart, 1999

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Distribution

This species is found only around New Zealand, although this species' collection records indicate it is widespread and probably continuously distributed over the mid- to lower slope around New Zealand.^[2]: 80 The biology of all Apristurus species within the New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone is very poorly known due to the uncertain taxonomy of the group.^[2]: 75 They appear to be most abundant below 1,000 m, and are the only sharks regularly taken in research trawls below 1,200 m on the Chatham Rise.^[2]: 80 As relatively little fishing occurs below 1,200 m, a large part of their population may be effectively beyond fishing depths.^[3]

Conservation status

The New Zealand Department of Conservation has classified the flaccid catshark as "Data deficient" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.^[4]