Taxonomic study of the genus Apristurus (Scyliorhiniddae, Chondrichthyes)

Apristurus属是深海猫鲨的一组，该属的分类非常混乱，有一些鲜为人知的物种，以及许多未被描述的物种，这些物种要么已发表，要么未发表。对名义种进行了分类分析，并与笔者直接采集的模式标本资料进行了比较。目前已知的独特种有31种。此外，在世界海洋中发现了许多未被描述的物种。外部和内部检验以及形态计量学和分生性状分析表明，该属中存在三个亚群。所有的物种都被分配到三组中的一组。第一组，长鼻群的特征是鼻孔前的长鼻，包括A.herklotsi和A.longicephalus两个物种。第二组为短鼻海绵组，其特征是上唇沟短，螺旋瓣数量少。其中包括a.a atlanticus、a.a platyrhynchus、a.a laurussoni、a.a parvipinnis等20种。第三类群为短吻目，上唇沟较长，螺旋瓣较多，有A.fedorovi、A.profundorum、A.kampae等9种。这些群体的分类处理一直没有解决，直到对狐尾鲨的系统发育考虑。一些新发现的未描述的物种正在出版，或将在适当的期刊上发表。

Genus Apristurus is a group of deep sea catsharks, and the taxonomy of the genusis is extremely confusing with poorly known species, and many undescribed species which have been either published or unpublished.Nominal species were taxonomically analyzed, comparing with data of type specimens, which were directly taken by the present author. Thirty one species were recognized as distinct at present. In addition, quite many undescribed species were found from the world oceans. External and internal examination, and morphometric and meristic character analyzes suggested the presence of three subgroups within the genus. All the species were assigned to one of the three groups. First groups, the long-snouted group is characterized by long snout before nostrils, and contains two species, A.herklotsi and A.longicephalus. Second group, short-snouted spongiceps group is characterized by short upper labial furrow and less number of spiral valves. This contains 20 species, like A.atlanticus, A.platyrhynchus, A.laurussoni, A.parvipinnis, etc. Third group, short-snouted brunneus group has longer upper labial furrow and more number of spiral valves, with 9 species, such as A.fedorovi, A.profundorum, and A.kampae. Taxonomic treatments of these groups were left unsolved, until the phylogenetic consideration of the carcharhiniform sharks. Some of the newly found undescribed species are in press, or will be published in the suitable journals.