Bluespotted Bamboo Shark

fieldmarks: Mouth well in front of eyes; spineless dorsal fins far posterior on tail, greatly elongated thick precaudal tail, long and low anal fin just anterior to caudal fin, lateral ridges on trunk, dorsal fins with straight or convex posterior margins, first dorsal-fin origin opposite or just behind pelvic-fin insertions; colour pattern of numerous white or bluish spots and dark spots, dark bands and saddles on a light background. Prepectoral length 15.0 to 19.4% of total length. Snout rounded or truncated anteriorly. Eyes moderately large, lengths 1.4 to 2.2% of total length. Body and tail fairly stout. A lateral ridge present on each side of trunk, and strong predorsal and interdorsal ridges present on midline of back. Interdorsal space short, slightly greater or less than first dorsal-fin base and 9.3 to 11.6% of total length. Snout to vent length 31.1 to 35.1% of total length; distance from vent to tail tip 61.8 to 67.1% of total length. Dorsal fins moderately large and rounded or angular, subequal to or larger than pelvic fins, and without concave posterior margins and projecting free rear tips. First dorsal-fin origin varying from slightly anterior to slightly behind pelvic-fin insertions, first dorsal-fin base slightly longer than second dorsal-fin base, first dorsal-fin height 5.4 to 7.3% of total length. Second dorsal-fin height 4.7 to 6.8% of total length. Origin of anal fin somewhat behind free rear tip of second dorsal fin, anal-fin length from origin to free rear tip somewhat less than hypural caudal lobe from lower caudal-fin origin to subterminal notch, anal-fin base less than six times anal-fin height. Total vertebral count between 161 and 185 (mean = 173.9, n = 8). Intestinal valve count 16 to 17 (n = 2). a prominent pattern of numerous white spots on a dark brown background in juveniles and adults, with small dark spots and darker brown or blackish transverse bands or saddles that are not conspicuously edged with black.

Indo-West Pacific: Madagascar, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia (Sandakan, Sarawak, Borneo), Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia (Obi Island, Moluccas; Manado, Celebes; Sumatra), Viet Nam, China, including Taiwan Island (Province of China), Japan, and Philippines.

Maximum total length 95 cm; possible hatchlings or free-living specimens 9.8 to 12.5 cm; adolescent males up to 64 cm, adult males 50 to 83 cm; an adult female 95 cm.

A little-known inshore bottom shark. Occurs on reefs in the tropics. Common but biology poorly known. Nocturnal, rests in reef crevices during the day, but feeds at night. Oviparous. Eats bony fishes and crustaceans.

Interest to fisheries considerable. Regularly taken in inshore fisheries in India, Thailand, China, and utilized for human consumption. Conservation Status : Conservation status uncertain.Marketed in Madagascar, for human consumption.