Deania calceus ( Lowe, 1839 )

Ebert, David A., Wintner, Sabine P. & Kyne, Peter M., 2021, An annotated checklist of the chondrichthyans of South Africa, Zootaxa 4947 (1), pp. 1-127 : 26

Deania calceus ( Lowe, 1839)

Birdbeak Dogfish

Acanthidium calceus Lowe, 1839: 92 . Holotype (unique): Not BMNH 1861.5 .19.33. Type locality: Madeira, North Atlantic.

Local synonymy: Deania calcea: Penrith, 1969: 62 ; Bass et al., 1976: 36, fig. 28; Compagno, 1984: 65, fig.; Compagno et al., 1989: 26, pl.; Compagno et al., 1991: 59; Ebert et al., 1992: 604; Compagno, 1999: 114; Compagno et al., 2005: 87, pl. 5; Ebert, 2013: 75, fig. 94; Ebert et al., 2013 a: 108, fig., pl. 7; Ebert & Mostarda, 2013: 28, fig.; Ebert, 2015: 66, fig. 72; Ebert & Mostarda, 2015: 22, fig.; Ebert & van Hees, 2015: 144; Compagno, 2016: 1174; Weigmann, 2016: 891. Deania calceus: Bass et al., 1986: 53 , fig. 5.8.

South Africa voucher material: SAIAB 646, SAIAB 647, SAIAB 648, SAIAB 649, SAIAB 13000, SAIAB 25718, SAIAB 26267, SAIAB 26268, SAIAB 26269, SAIAB 26270, SAIAB 27169, SAIAB 54847, SAM 25556.

South Africa distribution: The Orange River (NC) to at least Algoa Bay (EC).

Remarks: This species is quite common off the west coast between the Orange River to Cape Point, but is likely to be widespread off the South African east coast, including KZN. The species often occurs in considerable numbers, indicating it schools or aggregates ( Compagno et al., 1991). It is also frequently caught in association with large numbers of D. profundorum (D.A. Ebert, pers. obs.). During a series of surveys along the Madagascar Ridge it was also found to be common and frequently encountered in association with D. profundorum (D.A. Ebert, unpubl. data).

Conservation status: NT (2020).