Species: Small Spotted Catshark.
Location: Aberdeen, UK. 2006.
A short note on the small spotted catshark. I remember being slightly unimpressed the first time I worked with this species. I’d seen them in various aquariums; they had been the ones sitting on the bottom not doing an awful lot. However, after working with them in the aquarium environment for over 2 years, handling them, constructing suitable tanks, and feeding them squid, my appreciation has increased greatly.
They are individuals no doubt. Males are generally feistier than females, but then I have 1 female who is definitely the star of the show nicknamed (unimaginatively!) “Spot” for the large spot on the lower body region. She always comes to see what is going on and is invariably the chosen subject whose image is used for news reports and press releases. Surprisingly the small spotted catshark is featured on the shark attack file; an unfortunate fisherman had one clamp onto his nose whilst trying to de-hook it! So, there we have it, inquisitive individuals with a danger factor also! In my opinion an impressive yet underrated and overlooked shark.