FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes Western

Scyliorhinidae 1281
6a. Labial furrows present on 1 or both jaws
(Fig. 7a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Scyliorhinus) → 7
6b. Labial furrows absent or rudimentary
(Fig. 7b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Cephaloscyllium) → 8
7a. Colour pattern of dark spots on fins and
body, with 7 dusky saddle marks, interspersed
with dark and light spots (Fig. 8) . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scyliorhinus garmani
7b. Colour pattern of 6 to 9 distinct dusky saddle
marks, interspersed with dark and light
spots; fins plain (Fig. 9) . . . . . . Scyliorhinus torazame
8a. Colour pale with darker pattern of narrow lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 9
8b. Body coloration not as above . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 10
9a. Colour pattern of very narrow lines forming open-centred saddles, blotches and reticulations
on back and sides (Fig. 10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cephaloscyllium fasciatum
9b. Colour pattern of narrow, transverse bars on back and sides, not connected to form
open-centred saddles, blotches and reticulations (northeastern Australia) (Fig. 11) . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cephaloscyllium sp. D
Fig. 10 Cephaloscyllium fasciatum
Fig. 11 Cephaloscyllium sp. D
(after Last and Stevens, 1994)
10a. A simple colour pattern, consisting of only a few broad dark saddles on back and sides,
and without white spots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 11
10b. A strong colour pattern, mostly with scattered blotches and dark and white spots on
body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . → 12
11a. First dorsal-fin origin about opposite
pelvic-fin insertions; pectoral
fin wide, posterior margin greater
than mouth width; pelvic-anal
space greater than anal-fin length
in adults; a moderate-sized species,
to at least 70 cm total length,
males maturing at about 55 cm
(northeastern Australia) (Fig. 12)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . Cephaloscyllium sp. B
a) Scyliorhinus b) Cephaloscyllium
Fig. 7 ventral view of head
Fig. 8 Scyliorhinus garmani Fig. 9 Scyliorhinus torazame
Fig. 12 Cephaloscyllium sp. B
(after Last and Stevens, 1994)
11b. First dorsal-fin origin just behind pelvic-fin origins; pectoral fin narrow, posterior margin
less than mouth width; pelvic-anal space less than anal-fin length in adults; a dwarf
species, to 44 cm total length, males mature at 39 cm, females maturing at 36 cm (South
China Sea to Viet Nam) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cephaloscyllium sp.
12a. Ventral surface (including pectoral fins) prominently spotted with darker and light spots
on grey background; dark blotches and saddles on tail and caudal fin outlined and dotted
with large bright white spots; anal fin with prominent dark blotch (northeastern Papua
New Guinea) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cephaloscyllium sp.
12b. Ventral surface plain grey or white; posterior dark blotches and saddles on tail and
caudal fin with scattered outlined and dotted with bright white spots; anal fin plain . . . . . . . → 13