Epaulette shark

Taxobox
name = Epaulette shark

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width = 250px
status = LC
status_system = iucn3.1
status_ref = [IUCN2007|assessors=Bennett, M.B. & Kyne, P.M. (SSG Australia & Oceania Regional Workshop, March 2003)|year=2003|id=41818|title=Hemiscyllium ocellatum|downloaded=2008-06-02]
trend =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Chondrichthyes
subclassis = Elasmobranchii
ordo = Orectolobiformes
familia = Hemiscylliidae
genus = "Hemiscyllium"
species = "H. ocellatum"
range_

---

range_map_width = 250px
range_map_caption = Range of epaulette shark (in blue)
binomial = "Hemiscyllium ocellatum"
binomial_authority = (Bonnaterre, 1788)The epaulette shark, "Hemiscyllium ocellatum", is a bamboo shark in the family Hemiscylliidae found in the western Pacific Ocean off Papua New Guinea and northern Australia, possibly occurring in Malaysia, Sumatra (Indonesia), and the Solomon Islands between latitudes 1° S and 26° S, to depths of 50 m. Its length is up to 1.07 m.

The epaulette shark is commonly found in the shallow water of coral reefs, often in tide pools. When feeding, it will walk on the bottom of the tide pool or feeding area in search of prey. The caudal fin has a pronounced subterminal notch but is without a ventral lobe. It feeds mainly on benthic invertebrates.

Reproduction is oviparous. It survives well in aquariums. It has the ability to survive low oxygen conditions by switching off non-essential brain functions - apparently an adaptation for hunting in tide-pools with low oxygen.

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5350666.stm BBC Online story]
* [http://www.conservation.org/video/fak_fak_low.mov Movie of epaulette shark walking]
* [http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/found-the-walking-shark/2006/09/18/1158431644454.html Australian news article]

References

*

Footnotes