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Dark shyshark

Dark shyshark

Appearance and lifestyle:

The dark shyshark (Haploblepharus pictus) can grow up to 60cm long, they have a dark brown to black body which is covered in spots. They have a short flat head with a blunt nose and oval eyes. The shyshark got its name because of how it curls up, covering its eyes with its tail when threatened.

Habitat:

They occur along Namibia's coast and South Africa's west coast, in the cool Atlantic Ocean. According to www.fishbase.org, dark shysharks are commonly found in shallow, sandy areas.

Diet:

They feed on small, bottom-dwelling fish, crustaceans, and molluscs like octopuses and squid.

Threats:

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Dark shysharks live in sandy shallows
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Live on the cooler west coast of South Africa in the Atlantic Ocean, but not one the west coast in the Indian Ocean
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Like puffadder shysharks, dark shysharks curl up when threatened or caught.