Carpet Sharks
Bamboo sharks and carpet sharks are the common names for the members of the Hemiscylliidae family. The family members are distinguished by having a lizard like shape body, two similarly shaped dorsal fins, long precaudal tail and very large spiracles located behind and below their eyes. Their second dorsal fin is about as large as the first dorsal fin and of similar shape. Their anal fin is moderately large, very low, broad and rounded, with its origin well behind the second dorsal-fin base and its base separated by a notch from the caudal fin.
Members of the Hemiscylliidae are found in the tropical inshore waters of the Indian and western Pacific waters. They are slow-swimming bottom-dwellers, confined to continental waters and continental islands. They feed on invertebrates and small fishes. These sharks are harmless to people.
There are 2 genera and 17 species worldwide. Malaysia has 2 genera and about 6 species.
Members of the Hemiscylliidae are found in the tropical inshore waters of the Indian and western Pacific waters. They are slow-swimming bottom-dwellers, confined to continental waters and continental islands. They feed on invertebrates and small fishes. These sharks are harmless to people.
There are 2 genera and 17 species worldwide. Malaysia has 2 genera and about 6 species.
Scientific Name: Chiloscyllium griseum Müller & Henle, 1838
English Name: Grey Bambooshark
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 狗母鲨 (Gǒu mǔ shā), 灰斑竹鲨 (Huībān zhúshā)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Yu Bodoh, Yu Tokeh, Yu Punai, Yu-cicak Gempal
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาฉลามกบ (Plā c̄helām kob)
Local Hokkien: Kau Bo Sua
Main Identification Features: Body moderately stout. Two dorsal fins, somewhat smaller than pelvic fins and without projecting free rear tips. First dorsal-fin origin over last 1/3 of pelvic-fin bases to over pelvic-fin insertions. Juveniles dark bands without black outline.
Size: Maximum total length at least 77 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal waters, muddy and sandy bottoms, 5 to 80 m depth. Feeds mainly on small fishes, shrimps, worms, molluscs and crabs.
Scientific Name: Chiloscyllium indicum (Gmelin, 1789)
English Name: Slender Bambooshark
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 狗母鲨 (Gǒu mǔ shā)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Yu Bodoh, Yu Tokeh, Yu Punai, Yu-cicak Tembaga
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาฉลามกบ (Plā c̄helām kob), ปลาฉลามหิน (Plā c̄helām h̄in)
Local Hokkien: Kau Bo Sua
Main Identification Features: Body and tail very slender, with low lateral dermal ridges. First dorsal-fin origin over inner margins of pelvic tins and behind pelvic-fin insertions. Light brown colour above, cream below, with numerous dark spots on body, tail, and fins.
Size: Maximum total length about 65 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal waters, muddy and sandy bottoms, to 90 m depth.
Scientific Name: Chiloscyllium punctatum Müller & Henle, 1838
English Name: Brownbanded Bambooshark
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 狗母鲨 (Gǒu mǔ shā)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Yu Bodoh, Yu Tokeh, Yu Punai, Yu-cicak Insang Putih
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาฉลามกบ (Plā c̄helām kob), ปลาฉลามลายเสือน้ำตาล (Plā c̄helām lāy s̄eụ̄x n̂ảtāl)
Local Hokkien: Kau Bo Sua
Main Identification Features: Two dorsal fins, somewhat larger than pelvic fins and with projecting free rear tips. First dorsal-fin origin over anterior halves of pelvic-fin bases. Gill slits often with white margin.
Size: Maximum total length about 132 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Inshore bottoms, to 85 m depth. Feeds on fishes and crustaceans, mainly at night.
English Name: Grey Bambooshark
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 狗母鲨 (Gǒu mǔ shā), 灰斑竹鲨 (Huībān zhúshā)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Yu Bodoh, Yu Tokeh, Yu Punai, Yu-cicak Gempal
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาฉลามกบ (Plā c̄helām kob)
Local Hokkien: Kau Bo Sua
Main Identification Features: Body moderately stout. Two dorsal fins, somewhat smaller than pelvic fins and without projecting free rear tips. First dorsal-fin origin over last 1/3 of pelvic-fin bases to over pelvic-fin insertions. Juveniles dark bands without black outline.
Size: Maximum total length at least 77 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal waters, muddy and sandy bottoms, 5 to 80 m depth. Feeds mainly on small fishes, shrimps, worms, molluscs and crabs.
Scientific Name: Chiloscyllium indicum (Gmelin, 1789)
English Name: Slender Bambooshark
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 狗母鲨 (Gǒu mǔ shā)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Yu Bodoh, Yu Tokeh, Yu Punai, Yu-cicak Tembaga
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาฉลามกบ (Plā c̄helām kob), ปลาฉลามหิน (Plā c̄helām h̄in)
Local Hokkien: Kau Bo Sua
Main Identification Features: Body and tail very slender, with low lateral dermal ridges. First dorsal-fin origin over inner margins of pelvic tins and behind pelvic-fin insertions. Light brown colour above, cream below, with numerous dark spots on body, tail, and fins.
Size: Maximum total length about 65 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal waters, muddy and sandy bottoms, to 90 m depth.
Scientific Name: Chiloscyllium punctatum Müller & Henle, 1838
English Name: Brownbanded Bambooshark
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 狗母鲨 (Gǒu mǔ shā)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Yu Bodoh, Yu Tokeh, Yu Punai, Yu-cicak Insang Putih
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาฉลามกบ (Plā c̄helām kob), ปลาฉลามลายเสือน้ำตาล (Plā c̄helām lāy s̄eụ̄x n̂ảtāl)
Local Hokkien: Kau Bo Sua
Main Identification Features: Two dorsal fins, somewhat larger than pelvic fins and with projecting free rear tips. First dorsal-fin origin over anterior halves of pelvic-fin bases. Gill slits often with white margin.
Size: Maximum total length about 132 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Inshore bottoms, to 85 m depth. Feeds on fishes and crustaceans, mainly at night.
