Indonesian speckled carpet shark  (Hemiscyllium freycineti)

The beautifully patterned skin of this shark has a remarkable resemblance to the coat of a leopard. Rust-brown hexagonal spots, with paler centres, are closely packed over the body. Smaller dark spots cover the snout, and large, dark ‘epaulettes' (shoulder patches) are situated just behind the pectoral fins. The two dorsal fins and the anal fin are placed far back on the extremely long, thick tail (2) (3).

Occurs in the western South Pacific, around New Guinea (2).

The Indonesian speckled carpet shark inhabits shallow water over coral reefs, sand and beds of seagrass (4)

Very little is known about the biology of the Indonesian speckled carpet shark (4). During the day it hides in coral crevices or under overhangs; at night the carpet shark becomes more active, and can be found using its pectoral fins to ‘walk' along the sea bottom, hunting prey such as bony fishes and invertebrates (3).

The Indonesian speckled carpet shark has a restricted range, in which its habitat is being impacted by a number of human activities. Destructive fishing practices, such as dynamite and poison fisheries, are destroying coral reefs in the region, and parts of the Arafura Sea where the Indonesian speckled carpet shark occurs, are also subject to heavy trawling which devastates sea bottom habitats. This shark may also be threatened by pollution from mining, as mining waste is dumped into rivers which then empty into the ocean (2) (5). It is possible that the Indonesian speckled carpet shark may also be threatened by exploitation for the aquarium industry, as it makes an attractive display species (5).

At present there are no known conservation measures in place for the Indonesian speckled carpet shark (1).

For further information on sharks and their conservation see Project Aware:
www.projectaware.org

Authenticated (20/08/07) by Dr William White, Ichthyologist, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research.