Description of a new species of deepwater catshark Apristurus yangi n. sp (Carcharhiniformes: Pentanchidae) from Papua New Guinea

Apristurus yangi, a new species of deepwater catshark, is described from Papua New Guinea based on two specimens collected during recent deepwater surveys. The new species belongs to the longicephalus -group which is characterised by its very long snout compared to members of the brunneus- group and spongiceps -groups. Apristurus yangi differs from its closest congeners in a combination of the following characters: 8 intestinal spiral valves; mouth width 7.9–8.6% TL; 32– 33 monospondylous centra; 38 precaudal-diplospondylous vertebrae; small in size (female holotype mature at 437 mm TL); egg case small (~ 5.9 cm long) and with faint longitudinal striations.

Key words: Chondrichthyes, taxonomy, western South Pacific, Apristurus longicephalus group, molecular analysis