The Epaulette Shark obtained its name from the large black spots with white margins on the upper part of its pectoral fins that resembles a military uniform. The sharks tend to be creamy or brown and have broadly spaced brown spots. The maximum size an Epaulette shark can attain is about 42.1 inches in length. They are known to usually seek for food in tidal pools and risk being stranded, hence they tend to survive outside water for a long duration of time.
The Epaulette shark is quite docile and easily approachable without fear of being injured. However, it has a tendency of biting if handled. They have slow growth. The potential predators of the Epaulette sharks include larger fish. This shark species have little or no economic significance to fishers, hence according to the IUCN, it is considered of least concern.
Taxonomy
The scientific name of this shark species is Hemiscyllium ocellatum. It belongs to the family of Hemiscylliidae of the order Orectolobiformes.
Morphology
Epaulette shark has a small and slender body bearing a short snout. Its two spineless dorsal fins are of similar sizes and are located on the posterior of the body. The position of the anal fin is located in an anterior position to the tail. It has a thick and elongated pre-caudal tail. It likewise has a broadly rounded shape pectoral and pelvic fins. The caudal fin of the Epaulette shark has a sub-terminal notch and is devoid of a ventral lobe. The shark’s teeth are similar in each jaw and they are small, broad-based, and narrowly triangular cusps in shape.
The Epaulette shark is believed to live up to 20 to 25 years.
Adaptation
The modifications of the attachment of the Epaulette shark fins made it possible for the shark to move over the substrate in a walking mode type of movement. Furthermore, the coloration exhibited by the shark provides protective camouflage for it in its natural environment. During search for food, the shark relies upon its electroreception and olfaction for detecting food.
Feeding
They majorly feed on benthic invertebrates. The feeding of this shark species often occurs during dusk and at dawn, usually in tide pools. They sometimes used their snout to overturn bottom debris when foraging for hidden worms and crustaceans. The shark most times chews on its food for a period of time prior to ingesting the food.
Habitat
They are commonly found in shallow water on coral reefs, usually in tide pools. They are found at a depth ranging from 0 to 164 feet. The Epaulette shark is capable of walking along the sea floor with muscular pectoral fins. The shark is well adapted for survival in low oxygen habitats by being able to switch off non-essential bodily functions for several hours. The common location where these sharks are found include the western Pacific Ocean in waters around New Guinea and northern Australia.
Reproduction
The shark engages in an oviparous mode of reproduction. The females are grasped during mating by the males through biting of the body and gill region. A single female Epaulette shark may release up to 50 eggs within a year. The size of each egg is approximately 3.9 inches in length and 1.6 inches in width. When the eggs hatch, the length of the young ones that emerge is about 5.9 inches. The males reach maturity at 23.6 inches, while the female attain maturity at a body length of 25.2 inches.
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References
Bester, C (2019). Hemisycillium ocellatum. Epaulette Shark. Retrieved from https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/hemiscyllium-ocellatum/
Hutchison, B (2019). The Shark That Can Walk on Land. Oceanic Society. Retrieved from https://www.oceanicsociety.org/blog/1774/the-shark-that-can-walk-on-land
IUCN Redlist (2015). Epaulette Shark. Retrieved from https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41818/68625284
Kathleen, K.R (2019). Hemiscyllium ocellatus. Retrieved from https://www.fishbase.se/summary/5906
Shark Trust (2018). Epaulette Shark. Retrieved from https://www.sharktrust.org/blog/creature-feature-epaulette-shark