coral coral species family common shallow coral reefs west pacific pakistan new_guinea reaching length coral extremely slender body short head tail dorsal fins angled backwards identified numerous black white spots sides fins merge form horizontal bars furthermore adult males long thin inactive day dusk night coral actively small living invertebrates bony fishes slender form allows access tight spaces reef females lay purse shaped egg time young hatch months small harmless shark captivity reproduced regarded suitable shark species private coral minor reef fisheries minimal commercial value increasing fishing activity extensive habitat degradation range leading concern population assessment taxonomy coral described anonymous author usually referred english zoologist memoir sir original latin meaning common species placed newly created genus type specimen caught sumatra suspected lost description coral slender cylindrical firm body short narrow head snout short slightly flattened blunt tip eyes horizontally oval protected rudimentary membranes moderate size large nostrils covered broad triangular flaps skin anterior margins leaving small openings nasal flaps reach mouth pair broad grooves connecting openings mouth long angular mouth long furrows corners extending upper lower jaws small teeth narrow central flanked sides pairs gill slits pectoral fins fairly large dorsal fin angled backwards originates rear pelvic fin bases second dorsal fin similarly shaped slightly smaller originates quarter anal fin base adult males thin tapering extend thirds distance pelvic anal fins anal fin smaller dorsal fins caudal fin relatively short broad indistinct lower lobe ventral notch near tip upper lobe skin thick covered dermal denticles extremely variable coloration coral lacks prominent saddle markings black white spots grayish background spots run form horizontal include white tips dorsal fins white stripe gill slits underside plain white species grows long distribution habitat widely distributed member genus coral found pakistan india southeast_asia taiwan including philippines new_guinea range extends far north early records australian waters fact related australian banded sand common dwelling nature coral inhabits coral reefs depths exceeding biology ecology elongated body coral allows small spaces reef environment crawl pectoral pelvic fins like shark primarily nocturnal active foraging activity beginning afternoon ending sunrise day generally hides shelter reef sunken logs singly groups individual sharks return hiding place successive days species feeds small benthic invertebrates bony fishes captive specimens observed lying prey come range coral female producing eggs time egg enclosed purse shaped capsule roughly long wide end capsule squared bears short horns terminate short female deposits eggs vertical structures capsule light brown laid time eggs hatch months newly hatched sharks measure long contrasting dorsal pattern light dark vertical bars black white dots months old young grown coloration faded match adults males females attain sexual maturity respectively human interactions common trade coral regarded suited home small size attractive appearance requires tank metres long sufficiently deep hiding places shark tends aggressive small sharks attacking larger consume captive individuals known live years species reproduced small numbers coral caught incidentally reef eastern indonesia likely sold meat processed liver oil size limits economic importance assessed species notes data meet criteria vulnerable likely threatened rising fishing pressure range widespread habitat degradation blast fishing pollution mining coral use building material
Coral catshark