Abstract
The family Scyliorhinidae is the most diverse family of sharks, comprising 17 genera and 146 species. Belonging to this family, the genus Scyliorhinus presents 16 valid species and is considered a poorly defined group of catsharks, with a varied color pattern that is extensively used in species identification. A long history of species inclusions and rearrangements is documented in the literature, contributing to a lack of diagnostic characters for this genus and obscuring its relationships within the family. The same uncertainties are encountered in species identification, as sexual dimorphism, ontogenetic, individual and geographic variations influence their color patterns, and other characters are less reliable or present much overlapping. Scyliorhinus canicula is distinguished from its congeners by the presence of expanded anterior nasal flaps very close to each other and shallow nasoral grooves. Its nasoral region is unique in the genus and because of this its identity and relationships with other species are doubtful and need to be revised. Besides, its distribution is very wide and controversial and might be confused with S. stellaris and S. cervigoni. The aim of this BEPE project is to undertake a taxonomic review of Northeastern Atlantic Scyliorhinus species, examining external morphology, dermal denticles, teeth, musculature, neurocranium, visceral arches, pectoral girdle, claspers, and morphological and meristic data, endeavoring to recognize the valid species, better define them, and describe their morphological variation. This project represents a part of the ongoing global revision of the genus Scyliorhinus.
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