Carpet Sharks – Orectolobiformes

Shark Database | Carpet Sharks – Orectolobiformes

Orectolobiformes, also known as carpet sharks, are a diverse of sharks characterized for having two dorsal fins, five gill slits, and relatively short mouths. Several species have barbels and some have intricate carpet-like patterns, which give this order its nickname. Orectolobiformes range in size from just over 30 cm, like some species of @carpet shark, to the whale shark, the largest fish in the ocean, which can be up to 14 m long.

All Sharks In This Order:

Grey Bamboo Shark

Family: Hemiscylliidae | Genus: Chiloscyllium | Species: Chiloscyllium griseum | CITES: Not Listed | IUCN: Near Threatened

Grey Bamboo Sharks are found in the Indo-West Pacific Oceans at depths between five to 100 m below. They are common inshore bottom sharks and are often found in estuaries.   Biology and Behaviour: There is little known about grey… read more.

Hasselt’s Bamboo Shark

Hasselt’s Bamboo Shark

Family: Hemiscylliidae | Genus: Chiloscyllium | Species: Chiloscyllium hasseltii | CITES: Not Listed | IUCN: Near Threatened

Hasselt’s bamboo sharks can be found in inshore waters around Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam at depth of 12 m below on sandy and muddy bottoms. Biology and Behaviour: Hasselt’s bamboo sharks can grow to a length of… read more.

Henry’s Epaulette Shark

Family: Hemiscylliidae | Genus: Hemiscyllium | CITES: Not Listed | IUCN: Vulnerable

Henry’s Epaulette Shark is a species of  carpetshark found in West Papua, Indonesia, at depths of between 3m and 30m/9.8–98.4 ft. They are thought to be nocturnal and although they are usually found resting on the ocean floor, they have… read more.

Hooded Carpet Shark

Family: Hemiscylliidae | Genus: Hemiscyllium | CITES: Not Listed | IUCN: Vulnerable

Hooded Carpet Sharks are mostly an unknown species. They can be found around the Western Pacific Ocean near Papua New Guinea. They reside in tropical waters on coral reefs especially if there is an abundance of corals. Their swimming depth… read more.

Indonesian Speckled Carpet Shark

Indonesian Speckled Carpet Shark

Family: Hemiscylliidae | Genus: Hemiscyllium | CITES: Not Listed | IUCN: Near Threatened

Indonesian speckled carpet sharks now have a restricted range in the Indonesian province of Papua Barat (West Papua). They were previously believed to have a wider range.    Biology and Behaviour: Indonesian speckled carpet sharks occur in shallow waters on… read more.

Japanese Wobbegong

Family: Orectolobidae | Genus: Orectolobus | CITES: Not Listed | IUCN: Data Deficient

The Japanese wobbegong shark is a carpet shark found inshore, usually in sand or sandy mud bottoms as well as on rocky and coral reefs. This species is native to the Western and Northern Pacific and is common from Japan… read more.

Leopard Epaulette Shark

Family: Hemiscylliidae | Genus: Hemiscyllium | CITES: Not Listed | IUCN: Near Threatened

The Leopard Epaulette Shark is a species is bamboo shark member of the family Hemiscyllium, found in the Pacific Ocean east of Papua New Guinea. Mature females reached a size of 69 cm TL and males reach maturity at 60… read more.

Necklace Carpetshark

Family: Parascylliidae | Genus: Parascyllium | Species: Parascyllium variolatum | CITES: Not Listed | IUCN: Least Concern

Necklace Carpetsharks prefer tropical waters down to 180 m deep. They are endemic to southern Australia and occur in a variety of habitats such as sandy bottoms, rocky reefs, beds of kelp and seagrass beds. Biology and Behaviour: The Necklace… read more.

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