Pentanchidae

shark family

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Last updated

July 22, 2026

Quick Summary

The Pentanchidae family is a group of small sharks, often referred to as cat sharks. These sharks are typically less than 90 cm (3 feet) long and are characterized by their slender bodies and elongated, cat-like eyes. They inhabit marine environments in tropical and temperate regions worldwide and primarily feed on invertebrates and small fish. While some classifications place all cat sharks within the Scyliorhinidae family, others recognize Pentanchidae as a distinct family within the order Carcharhiniformes. No species in this family are known to be aggressive towards humans.1

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cat shark
…span the families Scyliorhinidae and Pentanchidae. Some classifications, however, place all cat sharks in the family Scyliorhinidae. The genus Apristurus, which is made up of the demon cat sharks and ghost cat sharks, contains as many as 39 species and may be the most diverse shark genus known.
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…span the families Scyliorhinidae and Pentanchidae. Some classifications, however, place all cat sharks in the family Scyliorhinidae. The genus Apristurus, which is made up of the demon cat sharks and ghost cat sharks, contains as many as 39 species and may be the most diverse shark genus known.
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