Pinnochio Catshark

PINOCCHIO CATSHARK
Apristurus australis
Long-nosed Mystery
Up to 81 cm
Named for its long, flattened snout. Very little is known about this species that exists in several distinct populations off the continental slopes of South Australia and New Zealand. They just don't come up heaps often in fishing trawls. Luckily, most of their range exists outside of fishing areas... for now. In southeast Australia, fishing operations at depths below 700 m is closed to trawling which provides protection for this species.