Animal Species:Varied Carpetshark, Parascyllium variolatum (Duméril, 1853)

The Varied Carpetshark is an elongate tubular fish that has a broad black band with small white spots around the gill region. The species is endemic to Australia.

A Varied Carpetshark at Rapid Bay Jetty

A Varied Carpetshark at Rapid Bay Jetty
David Muirhead © David Muirhead

Alternative Name/s

Necklace Carpet Shark, Ring-necked Catshark, Southern Catshark, Varied Catshark

Identification

The Varied Carpetshark is an elongate tubular fish that has small oval eyes, a small inferior mouth and two similar sized dorsal fins. It can be recognised by its distinct colouration. The body is light to dark brown with white spots. There is a broad black band with small white spots around the gill region. The fin margins have brown and white blotches.

Size range

The Varied Carpetshark grows to 92 cm in length.

Distribution

The species is endemic to Australia. It occurs from eastern Victoria, Tasmania, and around the south of the country to south-western Western Australia.

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

Parascyllium variolatum

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Varied Carpetshark specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The species occurs in temperate inshore waters.

Classification

Species:
variolatum
Genus:
Parascyllium
Family:
Parascyllidae
Order:
Orectolobiformes
Class:
Chondrichthyes
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  2. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
  4. Last, P.R. & J.D. Stevens. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. CSIRO. Pp. 513.
  5. Stevens, J.D. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Varied Carpetshark, Parascyllium variolatum, Parascylliidae, Necklace Carpet Shark, Ring-necked Catshark, Southern Catshark, Varied Catshark, elongated, tubular body, small oval eyes, light to dark brown, white spots, broad black band with small white spots around gill, 30 cm - 1 m, adult, marine, endemic to Australia,