Species profile
Pygmy Ribbontail Catshark
Tiny ribbontail catshark from western Indian Ocean waters off Tanzania and Somalia.
Eridacnis radcliffei
Overview
The pygmy ribbontail catshark is a very small catshark-like shark in the family Proscylliidae. It is the kind of species people usually miss in general shark guides, which makes it valuable as a compact reference entry for the smaller tropical shelf and slope sharks.
In this guide it is recorded from western Indian Ocean waters around Tanzania and Somalia. Recorded maximum length: 0.2 m.
For a shark this small, size, body proportions, and broad western Indian Ocean setting matter more than dramatic markings.
Common namepygmy ribbontail catshark
Scientific nameEridacnis radcliffei
FamilyProscylliidae
OrderCarcharhiniformes
Max length0.2 m
RegionTanzania, Tanzanian EEZ, Federal Republic of Somalia
How to recognize it
Use size first: this is a very small shark, with a slim body plan and catshark-like proportions rather than the heavy build of large coastal species.
Range and habitat
western Indian Ocean waters around Tanzania and Somalia.
Field note
For a shark this small, size, body proportions, and broad western Indian Ocean setting matter more than dramatic markings.
Related shark pages
Use these nearby pages to compare body plans, habitat, and species that are often learned together.
African Spotted Catshark
Small East African catshark marked with spotting and a benthic body plan.
0.3 m
Dwarf Lanternshark
One of the smallest sharks on Earth.
0.2 mData Deficient
American Pocket Shark
Tiny deep-sea shark with glowing pocket glands near its front fins.
0.1 mData Deficient