Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) >
Orectolobiformes (Carpet sharks) >
Hemiscylliidae (Bamboo sharks)
Etymology: Hemiscyllium: hemi-, from hemisys (Gr.), half, presumably referring to similarity and/ or close affinity to Scyllium (=Scyliorhinus, now in Scyliorhinidae) and/or Chiloscyllium; skylion, Greek for dogfish or small shark (See ETYFish); strahani: In honor of Australian zoologist Ronald Strahan (1922-2010), director of Taronga Zoological Park (Sydney), where holotype lived in captivity (See ETYFish).
Eponymy: Dr Ronald Strahan (1922–2010) was an Australian zoologist, ichthyologist and research scientist who was Director of Taronga Park Zoo, Sydney (1967–1974) when the carpetshark was described; the holotype had been swimming in the zoo’s aquarium since [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Whitley.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 18 m (Ref. 43278), usually 3 - 13 m (Ref. 43278). Tropical; 5°S - 10°S, 144°E - 153°E
Western Pacific: Papua New Guinea. Also reported from Indonesia (questionable occurrence).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 80.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 106604)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Caudal fin with a pronounced subterminal notch but without a ventral lobe (Ref. 13575). Head and snout with an abrupt black hood; body with conspicuous large white spots (Ref. 13575).
A little-known inshore bottom shark of singular and unique appearance (Ref. 247). Probably found on coral reefs (Ref. 247). Oviparous (Ref. 50449).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk (Ref. 50449).
Compagno, L.J.V., 1984. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 1 - Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(4/1):1-249. Rome, FAO. (Ref. 247)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5020 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00398 (0.00176 - 0.00901), b=3.09 (2.89 - 3.29), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.5 ±0.3 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec assumed to be <100).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate to high vulnerability (52 of 100).
