FAMILY: Hemiscylliidae
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Chiloscyllium punctatum
COMMON NAME: Grey Carpetshark, brown spotted cat shark, brown-banded catshark, spotted catshark, Brown banded bambooshark
Sometimes referred to as the Black Banded Cat Shark, (more commonly seen in the aquarium trade) is known as a Cat Shark because the barbels at the mouth look like cat whiskers.
TYPE: Fish
IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened (assessed 2015)
SIZE:
The maximum reported size of the brownbanded bamboo shark is just over 4ft (about 132cm) total length.
Males reach sexual maturity at 27-30 inches (68-76 cm) in length, while females mature at around 25 inches (63 cm) in length.
NOW WATCHING:
AVERAGE LIFE SPAN:
The maximum record life expectancy of the brownbanded bamboo shark (in captivity) is 25 years. In the wild, scientists estimate that span to be closer to 12-17 years and believe they reach sexual maturity at about year 5.
The Brownbanded bamboo shark is oviparous. Females lay flat, elongated egg cases measuring ~11x5cm. Hatching occurs 4 to 5 months after the egg is dropped by the female. Upon hatching, the young bamboo shark emerges free-swimming and measures 5-7 inches (13-18 cm) in total length.
Inside the egg, the shark embryo feeds entirely on the yolk within the case until hatching. Despite being confined to the small space of their egg case, being absolutely vulnerable to predators, embryonic sharks are able to recognise dangerous stimuli and react with an innate avoidance responses. In fact, recent research has shown that some embryos can detect predator-mimicking electric fields and respond by ceasing their respiratory gill movements!
DIVING DEEPER: Bamboo Shark Egg facts
DISTRIBUTION:
This shark is known to occur from the intertidal zone to at least 85m (0-279 feet). Interestingly, the brownbanded bamboo shark is frequently observed in tide pools and can tolerate hypoxia for extended periods of time.
Brownbanded bamboo shark habitats include: tropical coral or rocky reefs, intertidal pools, sand and mud flats, and seagrass beds.
Not much is known of this bamboo shark's population structure or trends in the wild and due to insufficient data, this species does not meet the criteria to be considered “Vulnerable”. However, it is considered “Near Threatened” due to growing concern over impact of human activities on this species throughout its range.
DID YOU KNOW:
Baby to juvenile individuals (up to 30cm) are distinctly marked with dark bands and sometimes have dark spots about their body as well.
However, as they grow into adults, this shark's coloration changes. Their once prominent bands lighten- in fact, their bands may even be completely absent by the time the shark reaches full sized adult.
DIET:
Nocturnal feeders, these sharks become more active as night falls when they excavate the sandy sediment in search of prey. Often solitary, although have been observed in groups of a dozen individuals, hiding in crevices among coral rock where they are well camouflaged with their trademark banding pattern.
Brownbanded bamboo sharks prey on benthic organisms and small fishes. A study in Australia found their diet to consist of crabs, polychaete worms, shrimps, and small fishes.
DID YOU KNOW:
Potential predators to this shark species include large fish, other sharks and marine mammals.
In captivity, these sharks are fed a variety of live and frozen foods including: shrimp, scallops, pieces of fresh marine fish, whole cockle in the shell, fresh squid and mussels.
CONSERVATION:
Although considered harmless to humans, the brownbanded bamboo shark may nip divers or aquarists if provoked.
Major threats to these sharks include: collection for human consumption and other products, habitat degradation from dynamite and cyanide fishing. Collection for the aquarium trade (both by large scale aquariums and home hobbyists) is considered to be a threat since this species is hardy and will breed prolifically in captivity.
The brownbanded bamboo shark is important to inshore commercial fisheries of India, Thailand, and perhaps Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines where it is utilized for human consumption. In fact, this shark is one of the most commonly landed species at Thai fishing ports, where capture is primarily through trawls.
These sharks are fished across most of its range including Australian waters, where brownbanded bamboo sharks are considered good quality for consumption and caught in beach seines or on hook and line. There is good news though, because within Australia this shark species is protected through marine park zones. Additionally, it is not a targeted species for any Australian fishery and if captured as bycatch they are largely released.
In the remainder of its range, pressure on this species is due to habitat loss to destructive fishing methods on reefs. Documented large declines in shark and ray catches associated with corresponding increases in fishing effort in the Java Sea is likely to have a large impact on their populations and may be representative of fishing impacts across the region. This species is susceptible to capture in a range of fishing gear, and given its coastal preference, the distribution for this species largely overlaps with artisanal and commercial fisheries in many countries.
IMPORTANT NOTE: most people do not have the knowledge, time, money, nor big enough space to keep a system large enough for even the smallest of shark species available.
DIVE DEEPER:
Check out this article for a bit more insight and if you need help rehoming
or rehabilitating your shark:
"...aside from not giving them enough room to move around when they want to, not having a large enough system will ultimately lead to their premature death. Also, they will grow no matter what size system you house them in. There is no such thing as stunting their growth."
Check out more information at these source links!