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| Galeus friedrichi |
A new species of sawtail catshark, Galeus friedrichi n. sp., is described from the Philippines. The new species is separable from other western Pacific Galeus species by the absence of saddle or blotch markings, a large size, >50 cm TL, 40 monospondylous vertebrae, and 83 precaudal vertebrae. All regional Galeus, other than Galeus sauteri, can be distinguished by having a marking pattern made up of a series of dark to light saddle or blotch patterns beneath the dorsal fins and on the caudal fin. Galeus sauteri can be separated from G. friedrichi n. sp. by its relatively small adult size, <50 cm TL, and fewer precaudal vertebrae (73–76 vs. 83). The two other large regional species, G. longirostris and G. nipponensis are presently known only from Japan and Taiwan. The new species is the third Galeus species, after G. sauteri and G. schultzi, documented from the Philippines.
Key words: taxonomy, ichthyology, Chondrichthyes, elasmobranch, western Pacific Ocean.
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| Galeus friedrichi n. sp. holotype, CAS-ICH 247314, adult male, 534 mm TL, lateral view, after preservation. paratype, CAS-ICH 247315, juvenile male, 455 mm TL , lateral view, after preservation. |
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| Galeus friedrichi n. sp. holotype, CAS-ICH 247314, adult male, 534 mm TL, ventral view of head. |
Galeus friedrichi, n. sp.
Philippines Sawtail Catshark
Diagnosis. A large slender Galeus species distinguished from all regional congeners by a combination of an absence of saddle or blotch patterns on body and caudal fin (except G. sauteri); large size, exceeding 50 cm TL (except G. longirostris and G. nipponensis); a higher count of monospondylous vertebrae (40) (except G. longirostris and G. nipponensis); and 83 precaudal vertebrae.
Distribution. Known only from the type specimens caught off off Sikayab-Bukana, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines at a depth of 550 m.
Etymology. The new species is named in honor of Jürgen Friedrich, a European philanthropist and co-founder of the JAF Foundation (Switzerland), in recognition of his commitment to marine conservation, research, and advocacy.
David A. Ebert and Jessica J. Jang. 2022. Galeus friedrichi (Carcharhiniformes: Pentanchidae), A New Sawtail Catshark from the Philippines. Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation. 39, 45–53.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7320085 https://zenodo.org/record/7320085
