Hemiscylliidae

Hemiscylliidae
Temporal range: Upper Jurassic–Recent[1]
Grey bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium griseum)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Order: Orectolobiformes
Family: Hemiscylliidae
T. N. Gill, 1862

Hemiscylliidae is a family of sharks in the order Orectolobiformes, commonly known as longtail carpet sharks and sometimes erroneously as 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

Genus Species Type species Synonyms Temporal range
Chiloscyllium J. P. Müller & Henle, 1837 7 Scyllium plagiosum Bennett, 1830 Synchismus Gill, 1862 Cenomanian–Recent[2]
Hemiscyllium J. P. Müller & Henle, 1837 9 Squalus ocellatus Bonnaterre, 1788 Thanetian–Recent[2]

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).

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]

There are currently nine recognized species in this genus:[5][6]

Fossil taxa

Captivity

Hemiscylliid sharks are sometimes kept in home aquaria.[9] Species from this family are ideal aquarium sharks because their natural habitats are tidepools, coral beds, and around boulders.[9] This predisposition towards relatively confined spaces helps them adapt better to home aquaria compared to other species.[9] 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.[9] Multiple species of hemiscylliid have been successfully induced to breed in captivity.[9]

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.[9] 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.

Parthenogenesis

It was widely reported in the British Press on February 10th 2016 that a Bamboo shark at Great Yarmouth’s Sea Life Centre was pregnant with two fertilised eggs. It is known that the shark has not come into contact with any other Bamboo sharks since 2013. Although parthenogenesis is observed in a small number of species, this is such a rare occurrence in this species that it became a news story. [10]

References

  1. 1 2 Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2009). "Hemiscylliidae" in FishBase. January 2009 version.
  2. 1 2 Sepkoski, J. (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera (Chondrichthyes entry)". Bulletins of American Paleontology 364: 560.
  3. 1 2 Compagno, Leonard J.V. (1984). Sharks of the World: An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Shark Species Known to Date. Rome: Food and Agricultural Organization. ISBN 92-5-101384-5.
  4. ↑ Debelius, H. (1993). Indian Ocean Tropical Fish Guide. Aquaprint Verlags GmbH. ISBN 3-927991-01-5
  5. ↑ Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2013). Species of Hemiscyllium in FishBase. April 2013 version.
  6. 1 2 Allen, G.R., Erdmann, M.V. & Dudgeon, C.L. (2013): Hemiscyllium halmahera, a new species of Bamboo Shark (Hemiscylliidae) from Indonesia. aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology, 19 (3): 123-136.
  7. 1 2 Allen & Erdmann (2008). "Two new species of bamboo sharks (Orectolobiformes: Hemiscylliidae) from Western New Guinea". Aqua (Miradolo Terme) 13 (3-4): 93–108.
  8. ↑ Allen & Dudgeon (2010). "Hemiscyllium michaeli, a new species of Bamboo Shark (Hemiscyllidae) from Papua New Guinea". Aqua International Journal of Ichthyology 16 (1): 19–30.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Michael, Scott W. (March 2004). "Sharks at Home". Aquarium Fish Magazine. pp. 20–29.
  10. ↑ http://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/642920/A-miracle-Female-bamboo-shark-set-for-VIRGIN-BIRTH-at-British-zoo
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