speckled carpetshark

Source: John E. Randall.

Also known as the Marbled Catshark, Speckled Carpet Shark, and Speckled Cat Shark, Hemiscyllium trispeculare ​is a small species - it has a total length (TL) of 79 cm! 

Found around the waters of Australia, there are some unconfirmed sightings in Indonesia around shallow inshore waters and coral reefs (their preferred habitats). The speckled carpetshark is a member of Hemiscylliidae family; collectively they are known as the Longtail Carpet Sharks. In Australia, there are three species in this family: the Epaulette Shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum), the Grey Carpet Shark (Chiloscyllium punctatum), and the Speckled Carpet Shark. They can look alike, so it can be tricky to tell them apart! Here is the main difference between the epaulette and speckled carpet shark: the speckled carpet shark has small dark spots immediately behind the ocellus. The epaulette shark does not.

The speckled carpetshark is oviparous. ​There is no fishery that targets these animals, although the small aquarium trade may go after it. Yet, the dangers of destructive fishing practices and habitat loss are of some risk to it. The IUCN has assessed these animals as Least Concern (LC).

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GLOSSARY

• ​IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature.​
• Oviparity/oviparous: Where adult Chondrichthyans lay eggcases (also known as ‘mermaid’s purses) and the baby develops inside the egg before hatching.

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