Chlamydoselachus africana, a new species of frilled shark from southern Africa

Ebert, D.A. & Compagno, L.J.V. (2009): Chlamydoselachus africana, a new species of frilled shark from southern Africa (Chondrichthyes, Hexanchiformes, Chlamydoselachidae).

• Zootaxa, 2173: 1-18.

Abstract

Frilled sharks (Chondrichthyes, Hexanchiformes, Chlamydoselachidae), long believed to be a monotypic family and genus, consisting of a single wide ranging species, Chlamydoselachus anguineus (Garman, 1884), is now known to contain at least two species. A new species of frilled shark, Chlamydoselachus africana, sp. nov., is described from five specimens collected from southern Africa. The new species, although difficult to distinguish externally from the well known C. anguineus, differ internally by the structural differences in the chondrocranium, lower total vertebral and spiral valve counts, and pectoral-fin radial counts. The new species, Chlamydoselachus africana, is known from off southern Angola, Namibia, and South Africa.

Distribution of Chlamydoselachus africana

Key to Species of Chlamydoselachus
1a. Total vertebral centra 160–171, MP-DP transition between the 72nd and 75th vertebral segment and occurs about over the pelvic fins. Spiral intestinal valve counts 35–49. Head length 13.1–16.2% of total length............Chlamydoselachus anguineus Garman, 1884.

1b. Total vertebral centra 147, MP-DP transition at 18th vertebral segment just behind the posterior end of the pectoral fins. Spiral intestinal valve counts 26–28. Head length 17.3–17.9%............Chlamydoselachus africana, new species.