long gill slits, with the first pair meeting over the throat. The pectoral fins are broad and rounded, originating just behind the sixth gill slit. The pelvic and anal fins are large with long bases and curved margins. The single dorsal fin is set far back on the body over the anal fin, and has a short base. The caudal fin is low and somewhat triangular, without a lower lobe. Compared to the frilled shark, the southern African frilled shark has several proportional differences, including a longer head and gill slits, more widely spaced eyes and nares, broader mouth, and a greater distance between the head and the pectoral fins. The largest known female is the immature long holotype, and the largest known males measure long. In life the shark is dark gray, but covered with a thin membrane that gives it a uniform dark brown color. Biology and ecology From stomach contents, the southern African frilled shark seems to feed mainly on smaller sharks such as the African sawtail catshark (Galeus polli). Its jaws, buccal cavity, and abdomen are all highly distensible, suggesting that this shark is specialized for capturing and swallowing whole large prey, with its rows of needle-like, recurved teeth preventing escape. One long specimen was found to have swallowed a ghost catshark (Apristurus sp.) that measured 40% of its body length. Although adult females are unknown, the southern African frilled shark is presumed to be aplacental viviparous like the frilled shark. Males mature sexually at a length of . Human interactions The conservation status of the southern African frilled shark has been evaluated as least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). References Chlamydoselachidae Fish described in 2009