Hemiscyllium trispeculare Richardson, 1843
Speckled carpetshark
Speckled carpetshark,  Marbled catshark,  Speckled carpet shark,  Speckled catshark
Hemiscyllium trispeculare
photo by Murch, A.

Family:  Hemiscylliidae (Bamboo sharks)
Max. size:  79 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 50 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: northern Australia (including Western Australia) (Ref. 6871). Possibly in the Mollucas (Indonesia).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. Body covered with numerous, densely clustered dark, small and large spots that form a reticular network of light ground color between them; dark crossbands strong on ventral surface of tail (Ref. 13575).
Biology:  Found on shallow coral reefs of the continental shelf (Ref. 247). Probably mainly feeding on benthic invertebrates (Ref. 6871). Oviparous (Ref. 50449).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 19 February 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Occurs in northern Australia, from Ningaloo in Western Australia to Rockhampton in Queensland (Ref. 6871). Commonly found in shallow water around Darwin (Ref. 6871). Also Ref. 247, 7300, 13575, 43278.


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