Haploblepharus edwardsii
Happy eddie | Puffadder Shyshark
Distribution
Temperate Africa
Description
Bottom-dwelling shark, endemic to South Africa. Previously believed to have two different colour forms, at the eastern and western ends of its range, however now known to be separate to the recently described species H. kistnasamyi occuring from northern KwaZulu-Natal to the Western Cape. H. edwardsii is now described as occuring from Lagebaan Lagoon, Western Cape, to Algoa Bay, Eastern Cape.
The colour pattern of H. kistnasamyi is superficially similar to H. edwardsii; however H. kistnasamyi is distinguished in having a stockier build, a less depressed head and trunk, and a compressed caudal peduncle. Also often misidentified as H. pictus, which is relatively larger and stockier, with a more bluntly rounded head, and more depressed body than H. edwardsii and H. kistnasamyi.
Information
Max Size: 59 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 7.7-24.1°C
Depth: 0-130m
Habitat Generalization Index: N/A
Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.
Conservation and Rarity
IUCN Status: Near Threatened
Occurrence: Widespread (100% of sites)
Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
Abundance: Many (10 per transect)
Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: Jo Schmid