Cephaloscyllium parvum (Chondrichthyes: Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae), a New Swell Shark from the South China Sea

Abstract

A new swell shark, Cephaloscyllium parvum n. sp., is described based on specimens from the South China Sea. It is a dwarf species and can be distinguished easily from large species of the genus by size at maturity. The new species is distinguishable from the other two dwarf species of the genus by possession of a triangular anterior nasal flap, a long preoral snout, fewer vertebrae, narrow mouth, and small head.