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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🌡️ Tropical

Epaulette shark

Hemiscyllium ocellatum Bonnaterre, 1788
Max Length
107 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.4
Depth
0–50 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
52.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Commonly found in shallow water of coral reefs . Often in tide pools . Feeds mainly on benthic invertebrates . Oviparous . Squirms when captured but cannot readily escape . Survives well in aquariums . Has the ability to survive low oxygen conditions by switching of non-essential brain functions; apparently an adaption for hunting in tide-pools with low oxygen .

Scientific Name
Hemiscyllium ocellatum
Authority
Bonnaterre, 1788
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Elongated
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
107 cm
Depth Range
0–50 m
Trophic Level
3.4
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
52.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Caudal fin with a pronounced subterminal notch but without a ventral lobe . Lateral ocellus not surrounded by large spots; spots present on head in front and below eyes .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Epaulette shark is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous

Oviparous, paired eggs are laid. Embryos feed solely on yolk . Prior to copulation, the male gets a good grasp of the female by by biting the body and even the gills .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 50 m . Tropical; 1°S - 34°S, 112°E - 163°E

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Trophic Level
3.4±0.2
Food Items

benthic invertebrates (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00407 × L3.09 (TL)
Max TL
107cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2015

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Low
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
52.00/100
Moderate-High vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.4
Predator
Body Shape
Elongated
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Bonnaterre, 1788

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Squalus ocellatus Bonnaterre 1788 Synonym
Squalus oculatus Banks & Solander 1827 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 3 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
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