The Shark That Sleeps in Style!
Some sharks are ahead of the trend when it comes to comfort—living in their pyjamas! Meet the pyjama catshark, a nocturnal creature that spends most of the day lounging in caves or crevices, catching some z's. And with those signature pyjama stripes; it’s no wonder they’re all about napping in style!
Swimming in Style
Exclusive to South Africa's coastal waters, the pyjama catshark loves hanging out in rocky reefs and kelp beds. With its thick, dark stripes running like a cozy, stripey onesie, this bottom-dweller has a look that’s unmistakable. Growing up to 1.1 meters (3.6 feet), it has a short head and snout, with dainty barbels that add to its unique charm. The pyjama catshark is the rock star of the shark world, with a sleek, side-compressed body and two dorsal fins placed far back—talk about making an entrance. Its pectoral fins are broad, pelvic fins lower, and adult males sport short claspers with a fused "apron."
Night Vision Like a Cat
As a primarily nocturnal hunter, the pyjama catshark has eyes designed for low light, much like a cat. It features a mirror-like layer called tapetum lucidum, which amplifies light, giving it a leg up on nighttime hunting adventures.
Rolling Like a Donut
When threatened, this shark has an impressive defence move it rolls into a donut shape, using its tail to protect its eyes. It waits patiently until an escape opportunity presents itself. And don’t worry, despite its tough appearance, the pyjama catshark is harmless to humans. Like other sharks, it maintains its osmotic balance by regulating its internal concentration of urea and other waste products—its feeding habits affect this process.
What’s on the Menu?
With its tough, arrowhead-shaped dermal denticles and bold stripes, the pyjama catshark is ready for any meal. These sharks feast on a variety of small creatures, including anchovies, gurnards, hakes, hagfish, smaller sharks and rays, and even crabs, squids, and worms. In False Bay, they love Cape rock lobsters, but they'll happily scavenge fish offal too. When chokka squid spawn, pyjama sharks ditch their nocturnal habits and gather in droves around the squid egg beds. They use their stripes as camouflage, sneakily ambushing female squid as they lay their eggs—talk about stealthy snack time!
The pyjama catshark is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, but its small range and increasing pressures are concerning. Many fishermen see these sharks as pests that steal bait, waste effort, and compete with other fish, often killing them instead of releasing them. This harms ecosystems and fish stocks overall, affecting fishermen’s livelihoods.
The WWF SASSI has added the pyjama shark to its Red List to discourage indiscriminate killing and encourage release, despite it not being commonly sold.