Asymbolus pallidus Last, Gomon & Gledhill 1999

Description. The egg case of A. pallidus is small (43.6–51.4 mm ECL) elongate and vase-shaped with a distinctly constricted anterior waist (Table 2; Fig. 3). It is convex on both sides with the surface covered in a layer of dense, fine, golden fibres. The surface underneath is glossy and appears smooth but has very fine and shallow, straight longitudinal striations. The egg case is golden in colour when fresh and retains a golden colour after freezing (Fig. 3) and after being fixed in 10% formalin and stored in 70% ethanol. The anterior border is very slightly concave with a translucent apron and no horns. The posterior border is concave with a thin, translucent apron and prominent horns that curve inwards. Each horn has a long, coiled tendril up to 1.1 times ECL when extended. All measurements are provided in Table 2.

Measure A. pallidus (n = 44) A. rubiginosus (n = 55) A. analis (n = 2) F. boardmani (n = 8) Remarks. Asymbolus pallidus is a small deepwater catshark (maximum size 468 mm TL) endemic to northeastern Australia, with a narrow range off Cairns to Bundaberg (~16.9419– 23.9586°S; 147.0598– 153.4312°E) in depths of 174–402 m (Last et al. 1999; Rigby et al. 2016a). It was described in 1999, based on the 11 known specimens (Last et al. 1999). A further 225 individuals were collected in 2011–2012, with 22 of the 115 females gravid (Rigby et al. 2016a). This is the first confirmed record and description of the egg cases of this species.

Material examined: Retained: CSIRO H 7565-05, two egg cases 46.7 and 47.2 mm ECL (from 383 mm TL female), Swain Reefs 23.7039° S, 152.4751° E, 280 m depth, 2 Jun 2011; CSIRO H 7562-03, two egg cases 45.9 and 44.9 mm ECL (from 384 mm TL female), Swain Reefs 23.6683° S, 152.3395° E, 207 m depth, 2 Jun 2011; CSIRO H 7562-04, two egg cases 46.7 and 46.9 mm ECL (from 391 mm TL female), Swain Reefs 23.6683° S, 152.3395° E, 207 m depth, 2 Jun 2011; CSIRO H 7569-03, two egg cases 49.9 and 50.1 mm ECL (from 386 mm TL female), Swain Reefs 23.7734° S, 152.5159° E, 234 m depth, 2 Jun 2011; CSIRO H 7563-02, two egg cases 45.8 and 46.6 mm ECL (from 372 mm TL female), Swain Reefs 23.6712° S, 152.4035° E, 209 m depth, 3 Jun 2011; CSIRO H 8061-01, two egg cases 48.45 and 50.1 mm ECL (from 423 mm TL female), Swain Reefs 22.5579° S, 153.3252° E, 196 m depth, 9 Jun 2011. Not retained: field code SB1006#31.4, two egg cases, 48.2 and 47.4 mm ECL (from 366 mm TL female), Swain Reefs 22.6187° S, 153.2196° E, 196 m depth, 10 Jun 2011; field code SB2206#74.3, two egg cases, 48.7 and 47.0 mm ECL (from 420 mm TL female), Swain Reefs 22.5515° S, 153.2501° E, 174 m depth, 22 Jun 2011; field code SM0504#73.1, two egg cases 43.6 and 47.0 mm ECL (from 372 mm TL female), Swain Reefs 21.6712° S, 152.8938° E, 179 m depth, 5 Apr 2012; field code SM1604#105.24, two egg cases 45.8 and 46.6 mm ECL (from 374 mm TL female), Swain Reefs 23.2412° S, 152.2471° E, 216 m depth, 16 Apr 2012; field code SM1604#105.28, two egg cases 45.3 and 45.8 mm ECL (from 367 mm TL female), Swain Reefs 23.2412° S, 152.2471° E, 216 m depth, 16 Apr 2012; field code SM1604#105.32, two egg cases 46.9 and 48.6 mm ECL (from 389 mm TL female), Swain Reefs 23.2412° S, 152.2471° E, 216 m depth, 16 Apr 2012; field code SM1604#105.34, two egg cases 48.9 and 49.1 mm ECL (from 370 mm TL female), Swain Reefs 23.2412° S, 152.2471° E, 216 m depth, 16 Apr 2012; field code SM1604#105.54, two egg cases 44.1 and 45.0 mm ECL (from 404 mm TL female), Swain Reefs 23.2412° S, 152.2471° E, 216 m depth, 16 Apr 2012; field code SM1604#105.56, two egg cases 45.5 and 46.7 mm ECL (from 386 mm TL female), Swain Reefs 23.2412° S, 152.2471° E, 216 m depth, 16 Apr 2012; field code SM1604#105.6, two egg cases 46.9 and 47.3 mm ECL (from 391 mm TL female), Swain Reefs 23.2412° S, 152.2471° E, 216 m depth, 16 Apr 2012; field code SM1704#106.42, two egg cases 44.9 and 45.4 mm ECL (from 376 mm TL female), Swain Reefs 23.5758° S, 152.3397° E, 242 m depth, 17 Apr 2012; field code SM1704#106.43, two egg cases 50.6 and 51.4 mm ECL (from 421 mm TL female), Swain Reefs 23.5758° S, 152.3397° E, 242 m depth, 17 Apr 2012; field code SM1704#106.47, two egg cases 50.3 and 51.2 mm ECL (from 384 mm TL female), Swain Reefs 23.5758° S, 152.3397° E, 242 m depth, 17 Apr 2012; SM1704#106.55, two egg cases 46.6 and 46.8 mm ECL (from 385 mm TL female), Swain Reefs 23.5758° S, 152.3397°E, 242 m depth, 17 Apr 2012; field code SM1704#106.56, two egg cases 45.9 and 46.7 mm ECL (from 391 mm TL female), Swain Reefs 23.5758° S, 152.3397° E, 242 m depth, 17 Apr 2012; field code SM1704#106.68, two egg cases 44.7 and 47.1 mm ECL (from 390 mm TL female), Swain Reefs 23.5758° S, 152.3397° E, 242 m depth, 17 Apr 2012.