Hemiscylliidae is a family of sharks in the order Orectolobiformes, commonly known as longtail carpet sharks or bamboo sharks. They are found in shallow waters of the tropical Indo-Pacific.

They are relatively small sharks, with the largest species reaching no more than 121 cm (48 in) in adult body length. They have elongated, cylindrical bodies, with short barbels and large spiracles. As their common name suggests, they have unusually long tails, which exceed the length of the rest of the body. They are sluggish fish, feeding off bottom dwelling invertebrates and smaller fish.^[1]

Genera and species

Chiloscyllium

This genus is distinguished by a relatively long snout with subterminal nostrils. The eyes and supraorbital ridges are hardly elevated. The mouth is closer to the eyes than to the tip of the snout, with lower labial folds usually connected across the chin by a flap of skin. The pectoral and pelvic fins are thin and not very muscular. There is no black hood on head or large black spot on the side^[3] (though juveniles often are strongly marked with dark spots/bars).

• Chiloscyllium arabicum Gubanov, 1980 (Arabian carpetshark)
• Chiloscyllium burmensis Dingerkus & DeFino, 1983 (Burmese bamboo shark)
• Chiloscyllium caerulopunctatum Pellegrin, 1914 (Bluespotted bamboo shark)
• Chiloscyllium griseum J. P. Müller & Henle, 1838 (Grey bamboo shark)
• Chiloscyllium hasseltii Bleeker, 1852 (Hasselt's bamboo shark)
• Chiloscyllium indicum (J. F. Gmelin, 1789) (Slender bamboo shark)
• Chiloscyllium plagiosum (Anonymous, referred to Bennett, 1830) (Whitespotted bamboo shark)
• Chiloscyllium punctatum J. P. Müller & Henle, 1838 (Brownbanded bamboo shark)

Hemiscyllium

This genus is confined to tropical waters off Australia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, but an individual from this genus, possibly representing an undescribed species, has been photographed at the Seychelles.^[4] They have short snouts with the nostrils placed almost at the tip, and well-elevated eyes and supraorbital ridges. The mouth is closer to the tip of the snout than the eyes, and lack the connecting dermal fold across the chin. The pectoral and pelvic fins are thick and heavily muscular. There is either a black hood on the head or a large black spot(s) on the sides of the body.^[3]

• Hemiscyllium freycineti (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) (Indonesian speckled carpetshark)
• Hemiscyllium galei G. R. Allen & Erdmann, 2008^[5]
• Hemiscyllium hallstromi Whitley, 1967 (Papuan epaulette shark)
• Hemiscyllium henryi G. R. Allen & Erdmann, 2008^[5]
• Hemiscyllium michaeli G. R. Allen & Dudgeon, 2010^[6] (Milne Bay epaulette shark)
• Hemiscyllium ocellatum (Bonnaterre, 1788) (Epaulette shark)
• Hemiscyllium strahani Whitley, 1967 (Hooded carpetshark)
• Hemiscyllium trispeculare J. Richardson, 1843 (Speckled carpetshark)

Fossil taxa

• †Acanthoscyllium sahelalmae (Pictet & Humbert, 1866)
• †Almascyllium cheikeliasi (Signeaux, 1949)
• †Chiloscyllium broenirnani Casier, 1958
• †Hemiscyllium bruxelliensis Herman, 1977
• †Mesiteia daimeriesi (Herman, 1973)
• †Pseudospinax heterodon Underwood & Mitchell, 1999

Captivity

Hemiscylliid sharks are sometimes kept in home aquaria.^[7] Species from this family are ideal aquarium sharks because their natural habitats are tidepools, coral beds, and around boulders.^[7] This predisposition towards relatively confined spaces helps them adapt better to home aquaria compared to other species.^[7] Their generally small size for sharks and their preference for water temperatures comparable to those enjoyed by other common aquarium fish have also endeared them to marine aquarists.^[7] Multiple species of hemiscylliid have been successfully induced to breed in captivity.^[7]

Full sized adult epaulette sharks are most successfully housed in tanks at or exceeding 180 gallons, while adult bamboo sharks require more space and are known to do well in 240 gallon aquaria.^[7] Hemiscyliids in captivity are provided artificial caves for them to hide in. However, unstable tank decor have been known to cause fatal injuries when the structure is disturbed by the sharks' digging behavior.

References