Blind Shark

About the Blind Shark

The Blind Shark, is one of the two species of Carpet sharks in the family Brachaeluridae, along with the Bluegrey Carpetshark.

Description

This shark has a stocky body and a wide, flattened head with a blunt snout. Its small, oval eyes are situated high on the head and have strong ridges underneath. The nostrils are located almost at the tip of the snout and have long barbels in front, as well as well-developed flaps and grooves around the opening. The mouth is small and almost transverse with 32–34 upper tooth rows and 21–29 lower tooth rows. Each tooth is upright and awl-shape.

The pectoral fins are large and broad. The two dorsal fins are roughly equal in size and have rounded apices and angular free rear tips. The pelvic fins are rounded and almost as large as the pectoral fins. The anal fin is half the size of the dorsal fin, and the caudal fin comprises approximately a quarter of the total length. The dermal denticles are large, giving the skin a rough texture.

Biology and Behaviour

The Blind Shark can reach a maximum total length of approximately 120 cm (3.9 ft). The species feeds on small reef invertebrates, including crabs, shrimps, cuttlefish, squid and sea anemones, as well as small fishes.It may rest in rocky caves during the day and move out to feed at night because it is nocturnal.

It is capable of surviving out of the water for extended periods, reportedly for up to 18 hours.

Reproduction and Lifespan

The Blind Shark is ovoviviparous, meaning that embryos develop in the mother’s body where they feed solely on the yolk. Litter sizes range from approximately 3 to 9 pups. The reproductive cycle may occur every two or three years, and newborns measure about 18–21 cm (7.1–8.3 in) in total length. Males reach sexual maturity at approximately 58 cm (22.8 in), while females mature at approximately 50 cm (19.7 in).

The species has an estimated maximum age of 19 years.

Habitat

The Blind Shark is usually found close to the shore, in tide pools and along the surf line, but can occur at depths of up to 140 m (459 ft). It prefers rocky shorelines , rocky reefs and nearby seagrass beds. Juveniles are common in shallow, high-energy surge zones.

Conservation

This species is not targeted or marketed commercially and has limited value. It is generally not retained for human consumption, although it may be incidentally caught in trawl and trap fisheries. It may also be collected in small numbers for the marine aquarium trade. Because of its ability to tolerate periods out of the water, post-release survival may be relatively high.

The Blind Shark is likely to occur in several marine protected areas, including Queensland’s Moreton Bay Marine Park and marine parks in New South Wales. The Blind Shark is currently assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

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Blind Shark Gallery