Chilean catshark

Common names: Chilean Catshark, Red-spotted catshark

Scientific name: Schroederichthys chilensis.

Size: In adulthood they measure between 40 and 60 cm. in length.

Where does it live?: In Chile it is distributed between Arica and the Strait of Magellan. It lives from the lowest tide line to depths close to 350 m.

Favorite sites: Taking advantage of its mimic ability, it usually lives close to the bottom.

Diet: Their diet is diverse and includes, among others, crustaceans, mollusks, algae, tunicates (pyura chilensis) and some fish.

Curious fact: Each fertilized female spawns between 1 and 2 encapsulated eggs that are deposited on the algaes. Each capsule, which is 4 to 5 cm long, carries an embryo that has a gestation period of 7 months.

Conservation status: In Chile the species does not have an official conservation category and globally it is included in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with classification “Deficient Data”.