bluegrey carpetshark

6/28/2018

Source: Taso Viglas / Flickr.

#Finfact: The bluegrey carpetshark (also known as Colclough's shark), is endemic to Australia. Brachaelurus colcloughi is a pretty uncommon grey-brown colored carpet shark, and prefers shallow, inshore waters off northeastern Australia. A bottom-dweller, it has a pale colored underside and juveniles have black and white markings on their dorsal side including fins that fade once they age.

A nocturnal animal, they use their distinctive barbels protruding from each nostril to hunt for benthic invertebrates and bony fishes! Reaching up to 76 cm (30 in) long, they have the unique ability to close their eyes when taken out of the water... sounds like another shark we know, no? Yup, just like their relation, the blind shark (Brachaelurus waddi).

They are viviparous with yolk-sac and give birth to 6–7 pups. The IUCN has assessed these animals as Vulnerable (VU) due to their small population size (estimated to be <10,000 mature individuals). Scientists think this number may be declining. Some good news, though: Moreton Bay Marine Park is protected, and these areas may help the conservation of this species.

EVER HEARD OF THE ANIMAL?

GLOSSARY

Dorsal fin: Fin located on the back.
Dorsal side: The top of an animal.
Endemic: Native to a specific region or environment and not occurring naturally anywhere else.
Invertebrates: Animals with no backbone (i.e. crustaceans, jellyfish, corals, sea anemones).
IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Pup: Give birth to baby sharks (pups).
Pups: Baby sharks.
Viviparous with yolk-sac: Also known as aplacental viviparous and previously known as ovoviviparous/ovoviviparity; it is the production of eggs that are fertilised and hatch inside the female shark but the embryos lack a placental connection to the oviduct or uterus and so do not feed off the mother.