Varied Carpetshark, Parascyllium variolatum (Duméril, 1853)

Scientific name: Parascyllium variolatum
Alternative name/s:
Necklace Carpet Shark, Ring-necked Catshark, Southern Catshark, Varied Catshark
Varied Carpetshark Parascyllium variolatum Click to enlarge image
A Varied Carpetshark at a depth of 2m, Stokes Bay, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, November 2000. Image: David Muirhead
© David Muirhead

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Parascyllium
    Species
    variolatum
    Family
    Parascyllidae
    Order
    Orectolobiformes
    Class
    Chondrichthyes
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The Varied Carpetshark grows to 92 cm in length.

Introduction

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.

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.

Varied Carpetshark
A Varied Carpetshark at a depth of 10m, Rapid Bay Jetty, South Australia, December 2003. Image: David Muirhead
© David Muirhead

Habitat

The species occurs in temperate inshore waters.

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.

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.