Abstract
A second nominal species of the pseudotriakid genus Gollum, otherwise known as false catsharks or gollumsharks, is described on the basis of seven specimens collected from the Sulu Sea. Gollum suluensis sp. nov., was discovered at the Puerto Princesafish market in Palawan during a project initiated by the World Wildlife Fund during the 1990s to investigate elasmobranch biodiversity in the Philippines. The genus Gollum is presently represented by a single nominal species G. attenuatus (Garrick), known from the outer continental shelf and upper slope adjacent New Zealand. Gollum suluensis differs from its congener in having a darker, plainer and less contrasted coloration, softer body, shorter and broader snout, smaller spiracle, larger pectoral fin,wider head, as well as larger proportions of the nostril, mouth and interorbital space. Based on their narrow and widely separated distributions, these sharks are probably relict species.
NSTL