Description
The maximum known length of the Australian sawtail catshark is 61 cm (24 in). Its slender body is firm and nearly cylindrical in cross-section. The snout is rather short and narrow, with a somewhat angular profile from above. The eyes are horizontally oval and equipped with rudimentary nictitating membranes (protective third eyelids). Beneath the eye is a thin ridge, and behind is a tiny spiracle. The nostrils have triangular flaps of skin in front. The mouth is wide and arched, with furrows of medium length at each corner. The teeth are small, each with a long central cusp and multiple smaller cusplets on each side. There are five pairs of gill slits.
The two dorsal fins have rounded apexes, with the first slightly larger than the second. The first and second dorsal fins originate over the rear of the pelvic fin and anal fins respectively. The pectoral fins are broad and moderate in size. The pelvic fins are small and low with an angular shape; in adult males their inner margins are fused to form a subtle "apron" over the claspers. The anal fin is roughly triangular; its base measures 11% of the total length, exceeding the distance between the pelvic and anal fins but not the distance between the dorsal fins. The caudal fin is short and low, with a small but obvious lower lobe and a ventral notch near the tip of the upper lobe. Small, overlapping dermal denticles cover the body and fins; each denticle has three marginal teeth. In addition, there are enlarged spiny denticles forming prominent crests along the front half of the upper caudal fin edge, and beneath the caudal peduncle to the ventral caudal fin edge. This species is grayish above and light below. Dorsally, there are 12–13 variegated dark saddles or bands along the body and tail, including three saddles before the dorsal fins that are separated by narrow bands. The saddles are highlighted by a lighter edge, and may contain white flecks. The dorsal and pectoral fins are dark at the bases and light at the margins.
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