Rusty Carpet Shark

Threat Level: low

RUSTY CARPET SHARK

Scientific name..............Parascyllium Ferrugineum

Family name..................Orectolobiformes

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Rusty Carpet Shark differs from other carpet sharks in its color pattern. It lacks the pitch black collar with the dense white spots. Instead it has a hazy or indistinct collar patch matched by 5 or 6 hazy 'saddles' or broad bands down its body. It has brown instead of white spots on the body and fins with a base color of gray-brown fading into a pale belly.

Mouth in front of eyes, nasal barbels, nasoral and circumnarial grooves. First dorsal fin origin behind pelvic fin bases, anal fin origin in front of second dorsal origin.

SIZE

Mature males measure at 23.8 inches, females mature at 29.6 , maximum length 31.5 inches.

COLOR

Rusty carpet sharks are gray-brown, with indistinct dark collar around gills with dark spots on body, tail and fins. Tasmanian specimens more heavily spotted.

FEEDING HABITS

Feeds on bottom-dwelling crustaceans and molluscs.

BEHAVIOUR

They are nocturnal, and like to hide in rocky caves and ledges by day.

HABITAT

Occur in Southern Australia. Found on or near bottom near rocks, river mouths, in algae on reefs or in seagrass in depths from 16.4 feet to 495 feet.

REPRODUCTION

They are oviparious, laying yellow eggcases with long tendrils laid in summer.

SHARK ATTACKS

Like all carpet sharks they are harmless but react violently when handled.

POPULATION REPORT

Not uncommon, not targeted by fisheries, rare in bycatch.