HEMISCYLLIIDAE


Chiloscyllium punctatum, 47.4 cm TL
(photo by Seishi Kimura)


Chiloscyllium punctatum
Müller and Henle, 1838
Brownbanded Bambooshark

Body elongated, moderately stout, without lateral ridges. Nostrils subterminal on snout; snout anterior to mouth long, mouth closer to eyes than snout tip. Dorsal fins larger than pelvic-fins, with free posterior projections; anal-fin base shorter than caudal-fin lobe between lower origin and subterminal notch. Color: adults uniformly light-brown dorsally, whitish ventrally; young with dark transverse bands and usually scattering dark spots. Size: maximum length ca. 1 m. Distribution: Indo-West Pacific, from India to northern Australia, north to Japan. Remarks: inshore bottom dweller; marketed fresh.