Whitespotted Bamboo Shark

Threat Level: low

WHITESPOTTED BAMBOO SHARK

Scientific name..........Chiloscyllium Plagiosum

Family name...............Hemiscyllidae

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Whitespotted bamboo sharks body are small and slender with very long tails. The mouth is well in front of the eyes. Both dorsal fins are of equal size and about the same size as the pelvic fins. The paired fins are muscular and can be used like legs to crawl around on the bottom. They have short, pointed sensory organs called "barbels," attached to each nostril.

SIZE

The Whitespotted Bamboo shark can grow to a maximum length of 37 inches ( 95cm ). They mature at 20-24 inches ( 50-60cm). At birth they measure about 4.6 to 5.8 inches.

COLOR

Dark body, with numerous light and dark spots, dark bands and saddles not conspicuously edged with black. Color patterns of young often different and bolder than adults.

FEEDING HABITS

Eats small bottom fishes, cephalopods, shelled molluscs and crustaceans.

BEHAVIOUR

They are nocturnal. Rest in reef crevices by day, feeds at night.

HABITAT

Indo-west Pacific: Madagascar to Indonesia, Philippines and Japan. These sharks occur in intertidal pools, very shallow water, rocky and coral reefs close inshore and on sediments, and offshore in bays.

REPRODUCTION

Poorly known, presumably oviparous, laying oval eggcases.

SHARK ATTACKS

Considered harmless.

POPULATION REPORTS

Not evaluated.