The catshark genus Scyliorhinus belongs to the family Scyliorhinidae, the most diverse family of sharks, and currently presents 16 valid species according to most modern accounts. The long history of taxonomic rearrangements and inaccurate descriptions of many species have contributed to misidentification of specimens and lack of information on the distributional range and diagnostic characters of its species. Species of Scyliorhinus are reviewed and redescribed here, with detailed descriptions on external morphology, neurocranium, claspers, dermal denticles, and tooth morphology provided for the first time for all species. Sixteen species are recognized as valid: Scyliorhinus boa (Goode & Bean, 1896), S. cabofriensis Soares, Gomes & de Carvalho, 2016, S. canicula (Linnaeus, 1758), S. capensis (Müller & Henle, 1838), S. cervigoni Maurin & Bonnet, 1970, S. comoroensis Compagno, 1988, S. duhamelii (Garman, 1913), S. garmani (Fowler, 1934), S. haeckelii (Miranda Ribeiro, 1907), S. hesperius Springer, 1966, S. meadi Springer, 1966, S. retifer (Garman, 1881), S. stellaris (Linnaeus, 1758), S. torazame (Tanaka, 1908), S. torrei Howell-Rivero, 1936, and S. ugoi Soares, Gomes & Gadig, 2015. The main taxonomic decisions herein taken include the resurrection of S. duhamelii (previously a junior synonym of S. canicula) and the synonimization of S. tokubee with S. torazame. Information on geographic distribution was updated for most species, especially for those with wide ranges (S. canicula, S. haeckelii, S. retifer, and S. stellaris).

Sharks of the genus Scyliorhinus from the southwestern Atlantic are reviewed; identification problems and taxonomic misinformation given in the literature are rectified. After extensive examination of the external and internal morphology of specimens collected mostly off southeastern and southern Brazil, Scyliorhinus besnardi Springer & Sadowsky, 1970 is placed in the synonymy of S. haeckelii (Miranda Ribeiro, 1907), which is thoroughly redescribed. Additionally, a new species, Scyliorhinus cabofriensis, sp. nov., is described from the state of Rio de Janeiro, distinguished from all southwestern Atlantic congeners by its color pattern, clasper and neurocranial morphology, and proportional measurements. A key to Scyliorhinus species occurring in the southwestern Atlantic is also provided.

A new species of catshark (Carcharhiniformes, Scyliorhinidae), Scyliorhinus ugoi sp. nov., is described from off Northeastern and Southeastern Brazil. The new species is closest to the Scyliorhinus haeckelii/besnardi group and S. hesperius but differs in background coloration, head width, sexual maturity, and in cranial and body proportions.

This is the first study to combine morphological and molecular characters to infer the phylogenetic relationships among catsharks. All currently valid genera classified in the family Scyliorhinidae s.l. and representatives of other carcharhinoid families plus one lamnoid and two orectoloboids were included as terminal taxa. A total of 143 morphological characters and 44 NADH2 sequences were analysed. Parsimony analyses under different weighting schemes and strengths were used to generate hypotheses of phylogenetic relationships. The phylogenetic analysis of 78 terminal taxa, using the combined dataset and weighting each column separately (SEP; k = 3) resulted in one most-parsimonious cladogram of 4441 steps with the greatest internal resolution of clades and strongest support. The main changes in nomenclature and classification are the revised definition and scope of Scyliorhinidae, Apristurus and Pentanchus and the revalidation of Atelomycteridae. The monophyly of Pentanchidae is supported, as is that of most catshark genera. Two new subfamilies of the family Pentanchidae are defined: Halaelurinae subfam. nov. and Galeinae subfam. nov. Our analysis emphasizes the relevance of morphological characters in the inference of evolutionary history of carcharhinoids and sheds light on the taxonomic status of some genera in need of further exploration.

The skate genus Atlantoraja is composed of three species (A. castelnaui, A. cyclophora, and A. platana) which differ from the other Riorajini species, Rioraja agassizii, in regards to their clasper features, squamation and presence of a caudal fin. Despite of being distributed along Southwestern Atlantic and commonly captured by fisheries in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina, detailed accounts on external and internal morphology are scarce and the taxonomic status of Atlantoraja species was not revised so far. The aim of this study, therefore, is to review the taxonomy of the genus Atlantoraja, updating information on type specimens and clarifying misidentifications among species, and to describe in detail anatomical structures such as neurocranium, visceral arches, pelvic girdle, dermal denticles and teeth. Lectotypes and paralectotypes are designated for Atlantoraja castelnaui and A. cyclophora. Notes on intraspecific variation within species are also provided. Atlantoraja cyclophora and A. platana are more similar to each other than to A. castelnaui in regards to the squamation (body dorsal surface smooth vs. densely covered by prickles) and color pattern of body dorsal surface, position of orbital foramina, overall shape of neucrocranium and body measurements. Lastly, we discuss the morphological differences among species of Atlantoraja and recommend the inclusion of characters presented here in future cladistic analyses.

The genus Scyliorhinus is part of the family Scyliorhinidae, the most diverse family of sharks and of the subfamily Scyliorhininae along with Cephaloscyllium and Poroderma. This study reviews the phylogenetic relationships of species of Scyliorhinus in the subfamily Scyliorhininae. Specimens of all Scyliorhinus species were examined as well as specimens of four of the 18 species of Cephaloscyllium, two species of Poroderma, representatives of almost all other catshark (scyliorhinid) genera and one proscylliid (Proscyllium habereri). A detailed morphological study, including external and internal morphology, morphometry and meristic data, was performed. From this study, a total of 84 morphological characters were compiled into a data matrix. Parsimony analysis was employed to generate hypotheses of phylogenetic relationships using the TNT 1.1. Proscyllium habereri was used to root the cladogram. The phylogenetic analysis, based on implied weighting (k = 3; 300 replications and 100 trees saved per replication), resulted in three equally most parsimonious cladograms with 233 steps, with a CI of 0.37 and an RI of 0.69. The monophyly of the subfamily Scyliorhininae is supported as well as of the genus Scyliorhinus, which is proposed to be the sister group of Cephaloscyllium. The phylogenetic relationships amongst Scyliorhinus species are presented for the first time.

Rioraja agassizii belongs to the monotypic genus Rioraja and differs from the other Riorajini species of the genus Atlantoraja by the shape of anterior nasal flap, squamation, clasper skeleton, body measurements and color pattern. Although R. agassizii is a well-known species, commonly captured in inshore waters of the southwestern Atlantic, its external morphology and internal anatomy have never been fully described and little is known on intraspecific variation within the species. Juvenile and adult, male and female specimens were examined, measured and dissected. Herein, we redescribe the species and present detailed descriptions and illustrations of external morphology, neurocranium, jaws, hyoid and gill arches, and pelvic fin and girdle. Additionally, notes on sexual dimorphism and ontogenetic differences in coloration, body and cranial measurements, and dermal denticles are provided.

The following letter, from a network of women zoologists, is a reply to the article of AlShebli et al. (2020), which suggests that female protégés reap more benefits when mentored by men and concludes that female mentors hinder the success of their female protégés and the quality of their impact. This contribution has two parts. First, we highlight the most relevant methodological flaws which, in our opinion, may have impacted the conclusions of AlShebli et al. (2020). Second, we discuss issues pertaining to women in science, bring a perspective of Women in Zoology and discuss how current diversity policies are positively changing our field.