taxonID	type	description	language	source
03BDAE6CFFCF8F2D30D65C26FF47FDF5.taxon	vernacular_names	Proposed common name: Arabian slender catshark	en	BEURA, SWETA, K. K, BINEESH, BANERJEE, DHRITI (2026): DNA barcoding reveals a new species of deepwater catshark of the genus Apristurus (Chondrichthyes: Pentanchidae) from India, in the Southeastern Arabian Sea. Zootaxa 5828 (2): 303-317, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5828.2.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5828.2.6
03BDAE6CFFCF8F2D30D65C26FF47FDF5.taxon	description	(Figs 1 – 6; Table 1)	en	BEURA, SWETA, K. K, BINEESH, BANERJEE, DHRITI (2026): DNA barcoding reveals a new species of deepwater catshark of the genus Apristurus (Chondrichthyes: Pentanchidae) from India, in the Southeastern Arabian Sea. Zootaxa 5828 (2): 303-317, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5828.2.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5828.2.6
03BDAE6CFFCF8F2D30D65C26FF47FDF5.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Holotype. ZSI / MBRC / F / 3296, adult male, 473 mm TL, caught at Kollam slope, depth 400 – 650 m, 08 ° 3 ’ 53.77 ” N, 75 ° 37 ’ 58.48 ” E, landed as a deep – sea shrimp trawler bycatch at Sakthikulangara Fisheries Harbor, collected on 28 April 2022 by Sweta Beura & Bineesh K. K. Paratypes. (3 specimens) ZSI / MBRC / F / 3297, adult male, 462 mm TL, caught at Kollam slope, depth 400 – 650 m, 08 ° 3 ’ 53.77 ” N, 75 ° 37 ’ 58.48 ” E, landed as a deep-sea shrimp trawler bycatch at Sakthikulangara Fisheries Harbour, collected on 8 April 2024 by Sweta Beura & Bineesh K. K. ZSI / MBRC / F / 3298, female, 472 mm TL, caught at Kollam slope, depth 400 – 650 m, 08 ° 3 ’ 53.77 ” N, 75 ° 37 ’ 58.48 ” E, landed as a deep-sea shrimp trawler bycatch at Sakthikulangara Fisheries Harbour, collected on 20 December 2024 by Sweta Beura & Bineesh K. K. ZSI / MBRC / F / 3299, female, 439 mm TL, caught at Kollam slope, depth 400 – 650 m, 08 ° 3 ’ 53.77 ” N, 75 ° 37 ’ 58.48 ” E, landed as a deep-sea shrimp trawler bycatch at Sakthikulangara Fisheries Harbour, collected on 20 December 2024 by Sweta Beura & Bineesh K. K.	en	BEURA, SWETA, K. K, BINEESH, BANERJEE, DHRITI (2026): DNA barcoding reveals a new species of deepwater catshark of the genus Apristurus (Chondrichthyes: Pentanchidae) from India, in the Southeastern Arabian Sea. Zootaxa 5828 (2): 303-317, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5828.2.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5828.2.6
03BDAE6CFFCF8F2D30D65C26FF47FDF5.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis: A species of Apristurus with the following combination of characters: slender body; snout angular and pointed; nostril length is smaller than internarial width; pre-outer nostril length shorter than interorbital space; pre-oral length smaller than the preorbital length; pre-outer nostril length 3.7 (3.5 – 5.2) % TL; pre-oral length shorter than the mouth width, 33.6 (31.7 – 34.0) % head length and 8.1 (7.1 – 8.1) % TL; nostril-mouth space shorter than nostril length, about 0.4 (0.3 – 0.4) times; upper labial furrows longer than the lowers furrows; internarial width slightly greater than or equal to orbit length, about 1.09 (1.0 – 1.11) times; inter-gill length 24.4 (24.4 – 28.5) % TL head length; 5 th gill slit height smallest, about 46.8 (46.8 – 62.5) % eye length; inter-dorsal space 9.3 (8.8 – 10.5) % TL; first dorsal fin smaller than the second dorsal fin, its origin at pelvic-anal midspace; first dorsal fin insertion is opposite to anal fin origin; anal fin base length is greater than pectoral-pelvic space and pelvic-anal space; pectoral to pelvic space greater than pelvic to anal space; pelvic to anal space 7.5 (5.5 – 7.5) % TL; spiral valve turns 11 – 12; monospondylous vertebrae 33 – 34; dispondylous precaudal vertebrae 37 – 42; precaudal vertebrae 70 – 76; caudal vertebrae 35 – 39; total vertebrae 105 – 115.	en	BEURA, SWETA, K. K, BINEESH, BANERJEE, DHRITI (2026): DNA barcoding reveals a new species of deepwater catshark of the genus Apristurus (Chondrichthyes: Pentanchidae) from India, in the Southeastern Arabian Sea. Zootaxa 5828 (2): 303-317, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5828.2.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5828.2.6
03BDAE6CFFCF8F2D30D65C26FF47FDF5.taxon	description	Description: Detailed morphometric measurements are provided in Table 1. The following data are provided for the holotype, followed by paratypes (n = 3) in parentheses (if different). Body slender and elongated, tapering posteriorly (Fig. 1), snout short, angular and bluntly pointed from dorsolateral and lateral views; eyes placed dorsolaterally, its length 4 (2.4 – 4) times the height; spiracles very small; abdomen short; pectoral-pelvic space shorter than anal fin base length and inter-dorsal space; pelvic to anal space is smaller than pectoral-pelvic space 1.0 (1.1 – 1.6) times; pre-caudal length 68.9 (67.5 – 71.5) % TL; pectoral-pelvic space 8.0 (8.0 – 9.5) % TL; pelvic-anal space 7.5 (5.5 – 7.5) % TL; inter-dorsal space 9.3 (8.8 – 9.7) % of TL; 0.40 (0.40 – 0.49) times pre-pectoral length and 1.24 (1.22 – 1.76) times greater than P 2 - anal space. First dorsal fin insertion opposite to anal fin origin and second dorsal fin insertion opposite to anal fin insertion. Head moderately short (Fig. 3), its length 24.1 (21.1 – 24.1) % TL, 3.0 (2.2 – 3.0) times in pectoral-pelvic space, 3.2 (2.9 – 4.2) times in pelvic-anal space and 3.1 (3.0 – 3.1) times in head height. Head width (at mouth corners) 10 (9.9 – 10.8) % TL and 41.4 (41.4 – 48.3) % HL. Nostril relatively large and its width subequal to internarial width; nostril length 3.4 (3.0 – 3.4) % TL and 14.1 (12.7 – 14.9) % HL; anterior nasal flap prominent; internarial width 3.5 (3.2 – 3.8) % TL. Inter-narial width slightly greater than orbit length, about 1.09 (1.06 – 1.11) times and 4.3 (2.4 – 4.3) times orbit height and 1.02 (0.9 – 1.2) times nostril length. Inner-nostril elliptical in shape, anterior nasal flap well developed and triangular. Nostril-mouth space about 0.42 (0.36 – 0.42) times internarial width. Mouth broadly arched, semicircular, its width 2.6 (2.3 – 2.8) times length; mouth length smaller than upper labial furrow length. labial furrows prominent, upper labial furrows 3.5 (3.1 – 3.5) % of TL and subequal to nostril length. Upper labial furrow 1.4 (1.1 – 1.4) times lower furrows and 14.5 (13.6 – 14.6) % HL. Orbit relatively small, placed dorsolaterally, its length 0.13 (0.13 – 0.15) times in head length and 0.94 (0.91 – 1.13) times nostril length. Interorbital space 4.3 (3.9 – 4.4) in head length and orbit length 1.7 (1.7 – 1.8) times in inter-orbital space. Spiracles very small in holotype and quite large in paratype, positioned slightly below the posterior horizontal axis of eye with the level of lower half. Five small gill slits, all unequal in height; third gill slit height the largest and fifth gill slit height the smallest. Lower edge of third gill slit slightly above pectoral fin origin; fourth and fifth gill slits elevated and placed over the pectoral fins. Fifth gill height 46.8 (48.3 – 62.5) % eye length and 6.2 (6.2 – 9.4) % head length. Pectoral fin relatively large, sub-triangular, posterior margin 63.8 (72.5 – 72.8) % anterior margin, anterior margin convex, posterior margin slightly concave to nearly straight; base narrow, its length 54.6 (45.8 – 60.5) % anterior margin; apex broadly rounded; inner margins straight; free rear tips. Pelvic fins moderately small and triangular; its length greater than P 1 – P 2 space about 1.2 (1.0 – 1.3) times and 2.3 (2.1 – 3.0) times anal fin height; anterior margin 38.4 (34.1 – 41.2) % pectoral fin anterior margin; its base length 1.0 (0.8 – 1.3) in pectoral base length; pelvic fin inner margins relatively small, slightly longer than D 1 base length, about 1.0 (1.06 – 1.22) times. Both dorsal fins quite resembling each other in shape but not in size; first dorsal fin relatively low and smaller than the second dorsal fin; its origin vertically above the pelvic-anal mid-space and insertion is opposite to the level of anal fin origin; second dorsal fin larger than the first dorsal fin, its insertion is opposite to anal fin insertion; its height 1.4 (1.3 – 1.5) in first dorsal fin height and smaller than anal height 0.5 (0.4 – 0.5) times; apex of both dorsal fins broadly rounded, inner margins nearly straight; its free lobe length 1.3 (1.1 – 1.3) times D 1 free lobe length. Anal fin long, its base length more than thrice its height (Fig. 5. A, B); its apex broadly rounded; its anterior margin 81.6 (70.9 – 82.2) % posterior margin; its inner margin very small about 1.2 (1.0 – 1.2) % TL and 0.2 (0.2 – 0.3) times anal height; anal and caudal fin are separated by a small distinct notch. Caudal peduncle height 13.9 (14.0 – 15.4) % caudal fin length and is less than one half of inter-dorsal space and almost equal to anal fin height. Caudal fin long, slender, asymmetrical, upper lobe moderately narrow; lower lobe poorly developed; apex of ventral lobe moderately angular to slightly rounded; post ventral lobe high; caudal height 27.5 (25.4 – 27.5) % of caudal fin length; its post ventral margin slightly concave, 56.8 (55.1 – 58.1) % caudal fin length; subterminal notch distinct, caudal fin terminal lobe height smaller than terminal lobe length about 0.6 (0.55 – 0.58) times. Claspers long and stout (Fig. 6), tapering posteriorly to tip; its tip strongly pointed and nearly almost reaching to anal fin origin; the ventral surface is covered entirely by dermal denticles; dorsal surface partially covered by denticles; clasper hooks present; pseudosiphon elongated and somewhat rounded, pseudopera large, broad and deep; exorhipidon simple in shape and without free posterior end; terminal dermal cover present at the tips of clasper. Teeth structure and counts. Tooth rows on upper jaw 36 + 41 = 77 and lower jaw 34 + 37 = 71. The dentition of Apristurus drona sp. nov. consists of minute, numerous teeth arranged in dense, multiserial rows in both jaws. This species exhibits diagnathic homodonty, characterized by small, pointed, and conical tooth morphology that remains relatively consistent across both the upper and lower jaws. Upper jaw possessing 3 to 5 cusps-one long median central cusp and one to two pair of sharp lateral cusps; lower jaw having 6 (5 – 7) cusps- one central cusp and two to three pair of lateral cusps consisting of one short and one minute lateral cusps. Upper jaw symphyseal teeth are slightly smaller than the laterals and are set closely together without interspaces. In contrast, the lateral series in both jaws exhibits distinct interspaces between the teeth. Anterior teeth of the lower jaw are slightly larger than both the lower laterals and the upper jaw teeth. In the upper anterior series, the main cusps are elongated, with the flanking lateral cusplets measuring less than half the length of the primary cusp. The lower jaw teeth are characterized by two distinct pairs of lateral cusplets (Fig. 4). Upper anterior symphyseal teeth are slightly inclined toward the lateral files, while the central teeth are characterized by a posterior curvature (Fig. 4 A). Teeth of mature males are somewhat larger than those of mature females. Dermal denticles. Flank denticles (lateral side of the trunk) overlapping, closely set with each other, tricuspid with small lateral cusps, main central cusp with long and elongated median ridge, lateral cusps short and weak. Head denticles almost similar to flank denticles, but the median ridge arrow shaped, pointed at the anterior margin (Fig. 5. C, D). Colouration. When fresh: Body full black in colour with brownish tinge; pectoral, pelvic, anal and post ventral margin of caudal fins dark black; iris shiny white in holotype (Fig. 1 A). Colouration after preservation: Body brownish black; fins colour mostly the same; dorsal fins of holotype posterior margin with a light reddish tinge; other paratypes dorsal fins posterior margin edges shady whitish in colour; post ventral caudal margin edges faint whitish; oral papillae and palate blackish brown; dorsal surface of clasper pinkish white. Vertebral counts. Monospondylous vertebrae 33 – 34; dispondylous precaudal vertebrae 37 – 42; precaudal vertebrae 70 – 76; caudal vertebrae 35 – 39; total vertebrae 105 – 115.	en	BEURA, SWETA, K. K, BINEESH, BANERJEE, DHRITI (2026): DNA barcoding reveals a new species of deepwater catshark of the genus Apristurus (Chondrichthyes: Pentanchidae) from India, in the Southeastern Arabian Sea. Zootaxa 5828 (2): 303-317, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5828.2.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5828.2.6
03BDAE6CFFCF8F2D30D65C26FF47FDF5.taxon	discussion	Molecular analysis Sequences of Apristurus drona sp. nov. were deposited in NCBI, GenBank database under the following accession numbers: PV 340238, KF 899719, KF 899718, KF 899717, PV 340237, PV 340235, PV 340236, KF 899721 and KF 899720. The amplified COI gene fragments had a read length of 661 bp. After a blast search in the NCBI database, three species were revealed as closely related to our species within the genus Apristurus. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted utilising the COI sequences generated in this study in conjunction with available sequences of the A. brunneus group retrieved from GenBank. Cephaloscyllium was employed as the outgroup to root the tree. In the resulting phylogeny, A. drona formed a well-supported, monophyletic clade (Fig. 7), distinct from all other congeners. The Kimura- 2 - Parameter (K 2 P) genetic distances indicated that A. drona is most closely related to A. nakayai, with a divergence of 5.5 – 5.7 %. Higher interspecific distances were observed between A. drona and A. exsanguis (10.9 – 11.1 %) and A. macrorhynchus (13.3 – 13.6 %). These findings are congruent with the morphological characteristics and support the recognition of A. drona sp. nov. as a distinct new species.	en	BEURA, SWETA, K. K, BINEESH, BANERJEE, DHRITI (2026): DNA barcoding reveals a new species of deepwater catshark of the genus Apristurus (Chondrichthyes: Pentanchidae) from India, in the Southeastern Arabian Sea. Zootaxa 5828 (2): 303-317, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5828.2.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5828.2.6
03BDAE6CFFCF8F2D30D65C26FF47FDF5.taxon	distribution	Distribution. This species is known from the area where the holotype and other paratypes collected, on the continental slope off Kollam, Kerala and around the Wadge Bank area in the Arabian Sea at depths of 400 – 650 m. This species is very rare in the fishery bycatch in the southwest coast of India and has no commercial relevance.	en	BEURA, SWETA, K. K, BINEESH, BANERJEE, DHRITI (2026): DNA barcoding reveals a new species of deepwater catshark of the genus Apristurus (Chondrichthyes: Pentanchidae) from India, in the Southeastern Arabian Sea. Zootaxa 5828 (2): 303-317, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5828.2.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5828.2.6
03BDAE6CFFCF8F2D30D65C26FF47FDF5.taxon	etymology	Etymology. This species is named Apristurus drona in honor of the second author’s son, Drona. The name is treated as a noun in apposition.	en	BEURA, SWETA, K. K, BINEESH, BANERJEE, DHRITI (2026): DNA barcoding reveals a new species of deepwater catshark of the genus Apristurus (Chondrichthyes: Pentanchidae) from India, in the Southeastern Arabian Sea. Zootaxa 5828 (2): 303-317, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5828.2.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5828.2.6
03BDAE6CFFCF8F2D30D65C26FF47FDF5.taxon	diagnosis	Comparisons The present new species from the Indian Ocean is assigned to the brunneus group of Apristurus defined by Nakaya & Sato (1999) due to the following characters: pre-outer nostril length is shorter than the interorbital width, upper labial furrow longer than the lower labial furrow and a discontinuous supraorbital sensory canal. Presently, there are 22 species represented in the brunneus subgroup including A. brunneus (Gilbert, 1892); A. nakayai Iglesias, 2013; A. investigatoris (Misra, 1962); A. indicus (Brauer, 1906); A. saldanha (Barnard, 1925); A. canutus Springer and Heemstra in Springer, 1979; A. exsanguis Sato et al., 1999; A. japonicus Nakaya, 1975; A. gibbosus Meng et al., 1985; A. macrostomus Zhu, meng and Li in Meng et al., 1985; A. internatus Deng et al., 1988; A. macrorhynchus (Tanaka, 1909); A. breviventralis Kawauchi et al., 2014; A. platyrhynchus (Tanaka, 1909); A. melanoasper Iglésias, Nakaya & Stehmann, 2004; A. laurussonii (Saemundsson, 1922); A. micropterygeus Meng, Chu and Li in Chu et al., 1986; A sinensis Chu & Hu, 1981; A nasutus de Buen, 1959; A. sibogae (Weber, 1913); A. parvipinnis Springer & Heemstra in Springer, 1979; A. ovicorrugatus White et al., 2023 and A. iterum White et al., 2025. Within the Indian Ocean, 12 Apristurus species are known, out of which 6 belong to the brunneus group (Ebert et al., 2013). Apristurus drona can be differentiated from most of the species of brunneus group in terms of lower spiral valve count (11 – 12 vs. 15 – 19 in A. brunneus, 19 – 23 in A. melanoasper, 12 – 15 in A. exsanguis, 18 – 20 in A. japonicus, 17 – 20 in A. laurussonii, 15 – 17 in A. nasutus, 17 in A. indicus, 16 – 20 in A. platyrhynchus, 16 – 21 in A. gibbosus, 15 in A. ovicorrugatus, 18 – 22 in A. parvipinnis and 13 in A. saldanha) and quite lower monospondylous vertebrae (33 – 34 vs. 40 – 47 in A. exsanguis, 36 – 42 in A. melanoasper, 35 – 39 in A. nasutus, 39 – 41 in A. macrorhynchus, 44 in A. saldanha, 35 in A. ovicorrugatus, 35 – 40 in A. platyrhynchus and 42 – 48 in A. japonicus) (Nakaya and Sato, 1999; Nakaya et al., 2008; Ebert et al., 2021). Comparison with Morphologically and Molecularly Closest Species Apristurus drona sp. nov. is somewhat morphologically similar to A. nakayai and on a molecular level, and closest to A. nayakai, A. exsanguis and A. macrorhynchus. Apristurus nakayai. A. drona shares a slender body, shiny white iris, absence of denticles in the mouth, and blackish-brown colouration. However, it differs significantly in various proportional measurements such as: D 1 – D 2 origin shorter (12.2 – 13.7 vs. 14 % TL); P 2 length longer (9.1 – 11.7 vs. 9 % TL; lower intestinal spiral valve turns (11 – 12 vs. 16); upper jaw tooth row (77 vs. 79); lower jaw tooth row (71 vs. 72); pre-outer nostril length (3.5 – 5.2 vs. 4.2 %). Furthermore, A. drona possesses a greater head length (21.1 – 24.1 vs. 20.3 %); greater mouth width (7.7 – 8.3 vs. 6.8 %); mouth length (2.9 – 3.5 vs. 2.4 %); smaller P 2 - anal space (5.5 – 7.5 vs. 8.2 %); D 1 base length (2.7 – 3.5 vs. 4.8 %); D 2 base length (3.8 – 4.5 vs. 6.6 %); smaller anal base length (14.4 – 15.1 vs. 19 %) and also smaller caudal fin length (28.4 – 30.3 vs. 32 %). Apristurus exsanguis. A. drona differs in having a larger head length (21.1 – 24.1 vs. 20 % TL) and longer preorbital length (8.0 – 10.3 vs. 8.1 % TL). A. exsanguis further differs by having an orbit diameter less than half the interorbital width (vs. more than half in A. drona). Apristurus macrorhynchus. A. drona differs from A. macrorhynchus in having smaller pre-orbital length (8.0 – 10.3 vs. 10.0 – 11.7 % TL); larger mouth width (7.7 – 8.3 vs. 6.8 – 7.2 % TL); larger mouth length (2.9 – 3.5 vs. 2.5 – 2.8 % TL); smaller first dorsal base length (2.7 – 3.5 vs. 5.1 – 5.8 % TL); smaller second dorsal base length (3.8 – 4.5 vs. 5.7 – 6.8 % TL) and smaller anal base length (14.4 – 15.1 vs. 18.2 – 19.1 % TL). It also differs from A. macrorhynchus in having second dorsal fin larger than first dorsal fin vs. subequal sizes of dorsal fins (Nakaya & Seret 2000). Comparison with Indian Ocean Congeners Six Apristurus species of the brunneus group are known from the Indian Ocean: A. indicus, A. investigatoris, A. melanoasper, A. platyrhynchus, A. sinensis, and A. saldanha (Ebert, 2013). Four species (A. indicus, A. breviventralis, A. saldanha, and A. melanoasper) occur in the Western Indian Ocean. A. investigatoris is the only species with confirmed occurrence from the Indian coast. Other four species, A. microps, A. canutus, A. indicus and A. saldanha have questionable status in India (Akhilesh et al., 2014). A. microps known from Southwestern Indian Ocean off South Africa, belongs to the spongiceps subgroup. Apristurus indicus, known to have distribution off Somalia and Oman waters in the Arabian Sea, the records from India are scanty and require confirmation (Ebert et al., 2017). It differs in its origin of first dorsal fin just opposite pelvic midbases (vs. origin positioned vertically between the midspace of pelvic-anal space in A. drona). A. indicus has a longer head (head length 27.6 vs. 21.1 – 24.1 % TL in A. drona); a long interorbital space (9.2 vs. 5.2 – 6.0 % TL in A. drona); and longer orbit length (4.9 vs. 3.1 – 3.4 % TL in A. drona). Apristurus investigatoris has a distribution from the Andaman Islands, Eastern Indian Ocean and is known from only two specimens. Our new species differs from A. investigatoris in having a wide snout (vs. a pointed snout); lower spiral valves 11 – 12 (vs. 13 – 22); a greater number of teeth (upper jaw rows 77 vs. 42); origin of first dorsal fin opposite pelvic-anal midspace (vs. opposite pelvic midbases). A. drona resembles A. investigatoris in having interdorsal space shorter than prespiracular head. Apristurus platyrhynchus was originally described from Japanese waters, and has a distribution off western Australia, the Indian Ocean and Norfolk ridge. Morphologically, it shares a close affinity with A. macrostomus from Taiwanese waters. Our species resembles A. platyrhynchus in: upper labial furrows longer than the lower and second dorsal fin insertion anterior to anal fin insertion. A. platyrhynchus differs in coloration: body and fins are light brown or grey to dark brown in colour, whereas A. drona body is dark black to brown in colour. It further differs in having the origin of first dorsal fin behind pelvic fin insertions (vs. origin at level of pelvic-anal midspace); more number of spiral valve 16 – 20 (vs. 11 – 12 in A. drona); moderately longer orbit length (2.7 – 3.7 vs. 3.1 – 3.4 % TL); longer pre-oral length (7.4 – 11.3 vs. 7.1 – 8.1 % TL); very long anal fin base length (15.9 – 20.6 vs. 14.4 – 15.1 % TL); absence of hooks on the clasper (vs. hooks present); higher second dorsal fin (2.1 – 3.6 vs. 2.0 – 2.2 % TL) (Nakaya & Kawauchi, 2013). Apristurus sinensis, commonly known as the South China Catshark, is a relatively rare species of deep-water shark. A. drona differs from A. sinensis in having the origin of first dorsal fin at midlevel of pelvic-anal interspace (vs. origin above posterior end or behind pelvic-fin base); body uniform blackish brown (vs. dark brownish with pale flecks & translucent or black fin margins). Apristurus melanoasper is the only species in the genus having a larger extension and known from the Atlantic, South Pacific and Indian oceans. It resembles A. drona with the body coloration of blackish or slightly brownish and insertion of second dorsal fin opposite to anal fin insertion, but can be majorly distinguishable by: origin of first dorsal fin over two-third of pelvic fin base vs. (over the midspace of pelvic-anal space in A. drona); pectoral-pelvic space longer than anal fin base length vs. P 1 – P 2 space shorter than anal fin base length in A. drona; interorbital space in orbit diameter (1.9 – 3.5 times vs. 1.6 – 1.7 in A. drona) (Nakaya et al., 2008). Apristurus saldanha is endemic to the coasts off South Africa. The possibly lost holotype was described by Barnard (1925) off Saldanha and later a few specimens were collected and identified by Bass et al., (1975) off the southwestern Cape and the same specimens were examined by Sato et al., (1999). A. drona differs from A. saldanha in having greater pre-spiracular length than interdorsal space (vs. interdorsal space very long, about equal to prespiracular length) and lower spiral valve counts (11 – 12 vs. 13 – 16 in A. saldanha). Apristurus breviventralis was described from the Gulf of Aden in the northwestern Indian Ocean based on nine specimens. A. drona differs from A. breviventralis in having first dorsal origin vertically between the midspace of pelvic-anal space (vs. origin of first dorsal fin behind the pelvic fin insertion in A. breviventralis) and a nostril length smaller than internarial width (vs. greater nostril length than internarial width in A. breviventralis). Furthermore, A. breviventralis resembles A. canutus from the western Atlantic. A. drona can be distinguished from A. canutus by having a smaller first dorsal fin length than the second dorsal fin (5.1 – 6.3 vs. 6.9 % TL in A. canutus). Moreover, A. drona is recorded from a relatively shallower depth range (400 – 650 m), overlapping with A. nasutus (400 – 925 m), A. saldanha (453 – 717 m), and A. canutus (500 – 1000 m). In contrast, the remaining congeners are generally distributed at greater depths, such as A. exsanguis (560 – 1200 m), A. indicus (1289 – 1840 m), A. melanoasper (512 – 1520 m), A. nakayai (953 – 1022 m), A. breviventralis (1000 – 1120 m), and A. parvipinnis (600 – 1220 m).	en	BEURA, SWETA, K. K, BINEESH, BANERJEE, DHRITI (2026): DNA barcoding reveals a new species of deepwater catshark of the genus Apristurus (Chondrichthyes: Pentanchidae) from India, in the Southeastern Arabian Sea. Zootaxa 5828 (2): 303-317, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5828.2.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5828.2.6
