---
title: "Blackmouth Catshark"
description: "Galeus melastomus — Fish. The blackmouth catshark (Galeus melastomus) is a species of deepwater catshark, belonging to the family Pentanchidae, common in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean from Iceland to Senegal, including the Mediterranean Sea."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/blackmouth-catshark
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Blackmouth Catshark

> Galeus melastomus — Fish. The blackmouth catshark (Galeus melastomus) is a species of deepwater catshark, belonging to the family Pentanchidae, common in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean from Iceland to Senegal, including the Mediterranean Sea.

- Scientific name: *Galeus melastomus*
- Category: `fish` (Fish)
- Habitats: `sea` (Sea & coast)
- iNaturalist observations: 87
- Wikidata: [Q141066](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q141066)
- iNaturalist taxon: [101184](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/101184)

## Names

- en: Blackmouth Catshark
- de: Fleckhai
- es: Colayo
- fr: Chien espagnol
- nl: Spaanse hondshaai
- pl: Piłogon

## Countries with the most observations

NO (41), DZ (15), IT (8), PT (7), ES (4)

## Summary

The blackmouth catshark (Galeus melastomus) is a species of deepwater catshark, belonging to the family Pentanchidae, common in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean from Iceland to Senegal, including the Mediterranean Sea. It is typically found over the continental slope at depths of 150–1,400 m (490–4,590 ft), on or near muddy bottoms. The youngest sharks generally inhabit shallower water than the older juveniles and adults. This slim-bodied species is characterized by the black interior of its mouth, a marbled pattern of pale-edged brownish saddles or blotches along its back and tail, and a prominent saw-toothed crest…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackmouth_catshark

## Photo

![Blackmouth Catshark](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/blackmouth-catshark/medium.jpg)

Photo: unknown · Public domain · commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Galeus_melastomus.jpg

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/blackmouth-catshark?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).