Epaulette shark (species: Hemiscyllium ocellatum) in taxonomy (Gaia Guide)
Animalia > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Vertebrata > Pisces > Elasmobranchii > Neoselachii > Selachii > Galeomorphi > Orectolobiformes > Hemiscylliidae > Hemiscyllium > Hemiscyllium ocellatum (gallery)
Hemiscyllium ocellatum
Epaulette shark


©Andy: Epaulette Shark at Magnetic Island

©Richard Ling: Epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum)

©David Witherall and Kerry Swanson: Epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum)

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Elasmobranchii
Order Orectolobiformes
Family Hemiscylliidae
Genus Hemiscyllium
Species Hemiscyllium ocellatum
Status least concern
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Colours

                        

Distinguishing features

Distinguishing features still need to be specified.

Size

  • Up to 107 cm (TL)

Depth range

  • From 0 m to 50 m

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

Commonly encountered in shallow coral reef waters and tide pools. It is well camouflaged and can been observed foraging over reef flats. Foraging activities are restricted by a combination of suitable tidal and light conditions: it is more active at low water and after dark and particularly around dawn or dusk. Has the ability to survive low oxygen conditions; apparently an adaption for hunting in tide-pools with low oxygen.

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