HEMISCYLLIIDAE


Chiloscyllium griseum, 46.7 cm TL
(photo by Seishi Kimura)


Chiloscyllium griseum
Müller and Henle, 1838
Gray 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 smaller than pelvic fins, without free posterior projection; interspace between dorsal fins usually more than 9.3% TL; first dorsal-fin height more than 6.6% TL; second dorsal-fin height usually more than 5.8% TL; anal-fin base shorter than caudal-fin lobe between lower origin and subterminal notch. Color: pale brown to gray brown dorsally, cream yellow ventrally, with 12 or 13 saddle markings in young. Size: maximum length 74 cm. Distribution: Indo-West Pacific, from the Arabian Sea to New Guinea, north to Japan. Remarks: inshore bottom dweller; marketed fresh.