Freycinet's Epaulette Shark

Very little is known about the biology of the Indonesian speckled carpet shark (4). During the day it hides in coral crevices or under overhangs; at night the carpet shark becomes more active, and can be found using its pectoral fins to 'walk' along the sea bottom, hunting prey such as bony fishes and invertebrates (3).

At present there are no known conservation measures in place for the Indonesian speckled carpet shark (1).

The beautifully patterned skin of this shark has a remarkable resemblance to the coat of a leopard. Rust-brown hexagonal spots, with paler centres, are closely packed over the body. Smaller dark spots cover the snout, and large, dark 'epaulettes' (shoulder patches) are situated just behind the pectoral fins. The two dorsal fins and the anal fin are placed far back on the extremely long, thick tail (2) (3).

The Indonesian speckled carpet shark inhabits shallow water over coral reefs, sand and beds of seagrass (4)

Occurs in the western South Pacific, around New Guinea (2).

Classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List (1).

The Indonesian speckled carpet shark has a restricted range, in which its habitat is being impacted by a number of human activities. Destructive fishing practices, such as dynamite and poison fisheries, are destroying coral reefs in the region, and parts of the Arafura Sea where the Indonesian speckled carpet shark occurs, are also subject to heavy trawling which devastates sea bottom habitats. This shark may also be threatened by pollution from mining, as mining waste is dumped into rivers which then empty into the ocean (2) (5). It is possible that the Indonesian speckled carpet shark may also be threatened by exploitation for the aquarium industry, as it makes an attractive display species (5).

Interest to fisheries none at present. It is not known if this shark is being affected by the aquarium trade. Conservation Status : Its conservation status urgently needs to be assessed because part of its limited range is being impacted by expanding fisheries, including dynamite and poison fisheries that are destroying coral reefs, and possibly localized toxic pollution from riverine mining activities.

A little-known bottom shark, occurs on coral reefs, on sand, and in seagrass in shallow water. Common in parts of New Guinea.Biology poorly known. It hides in reef crevices during the day and feeds at night.

To at least 72 cm total length. Smallest freeliving individual recorded 18.7 cm; males maturing between 37 and 62 cm; adult female 72.2 cm.

Western South Pacific: Indonesia (Irian Jaya, Waigeo), Papua New Guinea (Trobriand Islands from Kuia Island, Milne Bay, and east of Oro Bay).

fieldmarks: Mouth well in front of eyes, spineless dorsal fins far posterior on tail, extremely elongated thick precaudal tail, long and low anal fin just anterior to caudal fin, large dark spots on snout, dark wide-spaced spots on body, a moderately large black spot on flanks above pectoral fins, no black hood or white spots. Prebranchial head and snout without a black hood; underside of head uniformly light and without dark spots in adults, but with two broad dark bands in yound; several small to large dark spots mostly subequal to eye length present on preorbital snout. Black epaulette spot of shoulder moderately large, not in the form of a conspicuous white-ringed ocellus, nor with two or more additional round or oblong dark spots surrounding the posterior half of the epaulette spot. White spots absent from fins and body; fins and body covered with small to large and sparse dark spots that do not form a reticular network of light background colour between them; pectoral and pelvic fins with conspicuous dark webs and light margins in young, changing to scattered small and large dark spots in adults. Dark saddles on dorsal surface and sides of tail extending as dark crossbands onto ventral surface of the preanal tail (from pelvic-fin bases to anal-fin origin) in young, but saddles and crossbands are lost in adults which have uniform light ventral surfaces on their preanal tails.

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 0

Oviparous, paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk (Ref. 50449).

Caudal fin with a pronounced subterminal notch but without a ventral lobe (Ref. 13575). Black spot behind gills small, not in the form of a conspicuous ocellus (Ref. 13575).

A little-known bottom shark, probably common on coral reefs (Ref. 247); tide pools and sea grass beds in 0-12 m (Ref. 90102). Oviparous (Ref. 50449).

fisheries: minor commercial; price category: unknown; price reliability:

The Indonesian speckled carpetshark, Hemiscyllium freycineti, is a species of bamboo shark in the family Hemiscylliidae. It is found in the shallow ocean around the Raja Ampat Islands in West Papua, Indonesia, but was formerly believed to be more widespread. This was due to confusion with H. michaeli, a species described from eastern Papua New Guinea in 2010. Compared to that species, the spots on H. freycineti are smaller, more rounded or slightly elongated in shape (versus relatively large, edged and more leopard-like in H. michaeli), and tend to darken at regular intervals forming 8-9 vertical bars on the body and tail. Furthermore, the large black spot behind the pectoral fin is more clearly defined in H. michaeli than in H. freycineti. Confusingly, some books with illustrations and photos labelled as H. freycineti actually show H. michaeli.

H. freycineti reaches a length is up to 46 centimetres (18 in). It is nocturnal, hiding in reef crevices during the day.