Brown Banded Bamboo Shark Pup

Common Names: Brownbanded bamboo shark, banded bambooshark, banded catshark.

Latin Name: Chiloscyllium punctatum

Family: Hemiscyllidae

Identification: Elongated tan/brown body. Lateral groove on each flank running from behind head to base of tail. Juveniles have bold dark bands (without black edging) against a tan background. Dark bands fade in adulthood but often remain faintly visible. Occasionally, a few scattered small black spots on head and torso. Dorsal fins relatively large with concave rear margin. Anal fin set far back at base of tail. Snout rounded. Barbells extend from nares to mouth. Spiracle slightly smaller than, and positioned below and slightly behind eye. Short gill slits. Gill slit margins are noticeably pale.

Size: Maximum length 132cm. 11-15cm at birth. Males mature around 82cm. Females mature around 87cm.

Habitat: Coral reefs and possibly sandy substrates from intertidal zone to approx 85m. Occasionally found in tide pools. Able to survive for extended periods above water i.e. up to half a day between tides.

Abundance and distribution: Indo Pacific. East India, and South East Asia from Japan to Northern Australia.

Behavior: Nocturnal. Hides by day  in crevices on the reef or under corals. Hunts for bony fishes and crustaceans.

Reproduction: Oviparous. Lays up to 153 rounded egg cases. Eggs hatch after around 90 days.