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Project Noah Nature School
Chiloscyllium punctatum
"The brownbanded bamboo shark is an extremely hardy species, with a slender body and a thick, elongate tail. While the adults are light brown and lack an obvious colour pattern, juveniles are distinctly marked with bold dark transverse bands and a few scattered spots. Like all bamboo sharks (Hemiscylliidae), the paired pectoral and pelvic fins are muscular and leg-like, ideal for clambering over reefs and into crevices." Also know as Brown-spotted catshark, grey carpet shark, spotted catshark. - Source: http://www.arkive.org/brownbanded-bamboo...
Found on coral reefs and on sandy and muddy substrates from the intertidal zone down to depths of up to 85 metres. - See more at: http://www.arkive.org/brownbanded-bamboo...
The very first creature we saw upon our shore entry for a night dive. Juvenile at about 20 cm in length. Depth of less than 2 m. Halo Anilao Dive Resort house reef, Batangas, Philippines
Spotted on Dec 27, 2012
Submitted on Feb 27, 2013
16 Comments
Definitely is. First time to spot one in the wild. Thanks Karen :-)
What a cool shark!
Thank you Debbie :-)
You have some fabulous underwater photos Eric!
Thanks Jakubko :-)
WOW! Splendid!
Thanks Gerardo. It was just gamely posing for us :-)
What a spot Eric extraordinary :)
Thanks DyahPitaloca :-)
Thanks Alice. :-)
Thanks Elsa. None sure though of the mimetic strategy. Haven't read anything about that. But yeah it would look like one if that were the case. Cheers!
cool! :)
Great spotting! I'd say so elsa, especially as it is the juveniles that have that colouration.
NICE! Superb spotting Eric, I am only a little bit jealous.. It reminds me almost of a banded sea krait. I wonder if that is a mimetic strategy?
Thanks Ali :-)
Grace!