Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Scyliorhinidae
Genus: Scyliorhinus Blainville, 1816

Scyliorhinus canicula (Linnaeus, 1758)
En: Smallspotted catshark - Du: Hondshaai

Less common species off the Dutch coast (Nijssen & de Groot, 1987, p. 56; Nijssen, 2001, p. 28), often caught in fishing nets in the summer (EcoMare, 2001). Egg-capsules of S. canicula are often found on the Dutch coast (Bor, 1998, p. 23).

Sighting data:

31 May 2002 Smallspotted catshark seen by divers (Marco Nauwelaers) in the Oosterschelde, Zeeland, near Wemeldinge, at a depth of 20 m (Spuisluiswachter, 19-01-2003).
3 April 2002 Juvenile with an estimated length of 15-20 cm seen by divers (Freek Cornelius) in the Grevelingen, Zeeland, near Scharendijke, at a depth of 16 m (Spuisluiswachter, 14-04-2002).
6 September 2001 Report of a smallspotted catshark with an estimated length of 1 m seen by two Belgian divers (Luc Bonte and Marc Ghyselbrecht) in the Oosterschelde, Zeeland, near Kattendijke, at a depth of 6-8 m (Madde, 2001).
26 August 2000 Report of a smallspotted catshark seen by divers (A. de Graaf) in the Oosterschelde, Zeeland, near Sas van Goes, no further details (Spuisluiswachter, 14-04-2002).

Stranding data:

2 April 1994 Barely alive specimen washed ashore near Katwijk, no further details (Verkuil, 1994, p. 58).
26 November 1990 Washed ashore near de Grote Keeten, no further details (Verkuil, 1991, p. 46).

Angling data:

1 November 2000 Dutch angling record, length 79 cm, no further details (NCRZ, 2003).
2 May 1989 Dutch angling record, length 68 cm and weight 1.2 kg, no further details (NCRZ, 2001).


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