Animal Species:Grey Carpetshark, Chiloscyllium punctatum Müller & Henle, 1838

The Grey Carpetshark is a small, grey to brown fish that occurs throughout the tropical and subtropical Indo-west Pacific.

Alternative Name/s

Brown-banded Bamboo Shark, Brown-banded Cat Shark, Brown-spotted Catshark, Brownbanded Bambooshark, Spotted Catshark

Identification

The Grey Carpetshark is a small slender species with small eyes, nasal barbels and two similar-sized dorsal fins.  It lacks a lower caudal fin lobe.  Adults are brown or grey, juveniles have about 10 vertical bands.

Size range

It grows to about 1.5 m in length.

Distribution

The species occurs throughout the tropical and subtropical Indo-west Pacific. In Australia it is known from inshore tropical and subtropical waters.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Chiloscyllium punctatum

Feeding and Diet

The species feeds on benthic invertebrates.

Mating and reproduction

It lays eggs cases that are about 11 cm long and 5 cm wide (see link above to Grey Carpetshark Senses).

Classification

Species:
punctatum
Genus:
Chiloscyllium
Family:
Hemiscylliidae
Order:
Orectolobiformes
Class:
Chondrichthyes
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  2. Last, P.R. & J.D. Stevens. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Edition 2. CSIRO. Pp. 644, Pl. 1-91.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Grey Carpetshark, Chiloscyllium punctatum, Hemiscylliidae,