japanese common species belonging family found depths northwestern pacific_ocean japan taiwan benthic nature favors rocky reefs reaching length thick bodied shark broad head large mouth sized dorsal fins positioned far past pelvic fins identified dorsal coloration consisting seven brown extensive darker light tan background species shark scientific literature feeding habits known consume numerous types fishes invertebrates including unusually high diversity fishes like species capable rapidly body defense predators species females laying eggs time defined breeding season reproduction occurs year round eggs hatch approximately year harmless captivity caught commercial population suffered fishing activity presently lacks sufficient information assess conservation status taxonomy american described volume based long stuffed dry skin originally obtained nagasaki japan gave specific epithet latin meaning shaded assigned genus taxonomy history confusion dried skin located shark expert prepared review absence basis inconclusive differences authors followed judgment particularly japan preferred referring taxonomy species application similar smaller species sharing range second species referred pseudo identified recently found described distinct distribution habitat known inhabit northwestern pacific_ocean japan southward taiwan including range extend far new_guinea abundant species inhabits rocky reefs continental shelf depths description maximum reported length firm stout body soft abdomen short broad flattened head snout long rounded large nostrils divided short triangular flaps skin small horizontally oval eyes placed high head equipped rudimentary membranes protective tiny lies closely eye pairs gill slits short progressively smaller mouth forms broad arch lacks furrows corners small teeth central flanked smaller sides tooth rows upper jaw tooth rows lower jaw pectoral fins moderately large wide rounded tips dorsal fins rounded placed body originating small pelvic fins dorsal fin twice high second anal fin nearly large dorsal fin placed slightly ahead second dorsal fin caudal fin large broad upper lobe longer lower bearing prominent ventral notch near tip skin thick sparsely covered large dermal denticles diamond shaped crown horizontal ridges shark cream colored dark brownish grayish sides seven dark brown dorsal body tail age fade obscured older sharks dark pectoral pelvic fins underside pale darker marks biology ecology like members genus threatened capable rapidly stomach water air allows shark wedge inside rocky extremely difficult remove species highly predator recorded female long fish long squid long stomach predominantly species known prey species bony fishes including fast swimming types inhabit open water significant prey species include unusually small shark feeds species fishes including sharks particularly cloudy eggs electric ray including eggs smaller members species cephalopods squid frequently taken crabs shrimp occasionally consumed composition juveniles varies notably place place reproduction proceeds year obvious seasonal cycling adult females single functional right functional species thought relatively prolific contains numerous stages development pairs eggs laid time females documented producing eggs years male contact suggesting able store sperm purse shaped egg relatively large thick measuring long capsule surface smooth cream color yellow margins long extend corners capsule embryo long external gills lost dermal denticles begun develop light brown present eggs roughly year hatch newly emerged sharks measure long series captive experiments reported sharks grew length day males females attain sexual maturity size respectively growth rate maturity low known parasites species include human interactions harmless humans readily captivity reproduced public species caught incidentally japanese brought market intensive commercial fishing range appear impacted numbers data available listed
Blotchy swellshark