Family PROSCYLLIIDAE Fowler 1941 (Finback Catsharks)

Revised 8 Dec. 2022
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Ctenacis Compagno 1973 cteno-, from ktenós (Gr. κτενός), comb; ákis (Gr. ἀκίς), any pointed object, referring to its comb-like posterior teeth

Ctenacis fehlmanni (Springer 1968) in honor of American ichthyologist-herpetologist Herman Adair Fehlmann (1917–2005), Smithsonian Oceanographic Sorting Center, for “setting high standards for field treatment of shark specimens collected for study”

Eridacnis Smith 1913 etymology not explained, possibly eri– (Gr. ἐρι), intensive particle (i.e., very), and dáknō (Gr. δάκνω), to bite, referring to “wide, angular” mouth of E. radcliffei

Eridacnis barbouri (Bigelow & Schroeder 1944) in honor of American herpetologist (and wealthy patron of science) Thomas Barbour (1884–1946), Director, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, for the “constant assistance” he gave the authors in their studies of western North Atlantic sharks

Eridacnis radcliffei Smith 1913 in honor of ichthyologist-malacologist Lewis Radcliffe (1880–1950), scientific assistant of the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries and member of team that collected holotype from aboard the fisheries steamer Albatross

Eridacnis sinuans (Smith 1957) Latin for sinuous, probably referring to its slender body and/or long, ribbon-like caudal fin

Proscyllium Hilgendorf 1904 pro (L.), in front of, probably referring to far forward placement of dorsal fin compared with Scyllium (=Scyliorhinus, Scyliorhinidae)

Proscyllium habereri Hilgendorf 1904 in honor of German physician, anthropologist and natural history collector Karl Albert Haberer (1864–1941), who collected holotype

Proscyllium magnificum Last & Vongpanich 2004 Latin for noble or splendid, referring to its “strikingly beautiful” color pattern

Proscyllium venustum (Tanaka 1912) Latin for beautiful, probably referring to its spotted color pattern, as reflected in its local Japanese name Hyozame, meaning Leopard Shark [treated as a junior synonym of P. habereri by some workers]