Brownbanded Bamboo Shark

Chiloscyllium punctatum

Habitat & Distribution :  Coral reefs and tide pools, up to depths of 85 m, Indo-West Pacific ocean

Diet: Small bony fish and benthic invertebrates

Size: Up to 132 cm

Lifespan: Up to 25 years

Description

The brownbanded bamboo shark is part of the bamboo shark or longtail carpete shark family. It has a small, long, cylindrical body that is light brown with no patterns in adults, and marked with dark bands as juveniles. As its family name suggests, it has a very long tail. Its snout is relatively long, with short barbels beneath it.

Behavior

Nocturnal and bottom-dwelling, this shark is more active at night, sucking benthic invertebrates or small fishes into their small mouths, making clicks and pops as they do. If the prey is too big, the shark will regurgitate / puke it out.

During the day, it prefers to hide and rest. Solitary.

Reproduction

Oviparous, females will lay paired eggs in elongated, flattened cases on the seafloor, where the embryo will develop for about 4 months before hatching.

Mating occurs when both are sexually mature, which is at a body length of 63 cm for females and 68 - 76 cm for males.

Communication & Perception

Relies on its strong sense of smell, electrosensory organ, and its keen eyesight to hunt. It communicates with body language/posture and sound! For example, when stressed, it can click its jaws or hiss by pushing water out of its gills.

Predator

Bigger sharks and marine mammals

Conservation Status: Near Threatened (IUCN Red List; 2024)