Bluegrey carpetshark
Bluegrey carpetshark | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Chondrichthyes |
Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
Subdivision: | Selachimorpha |
Order: | Orectolobiformes |
Family: | Brachaeluridae |
Genus: | Brachaelurus |
Species: | B. colcloughi
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Binomial name | |
Brachaelurus colcloughi (J. D. Ogilby, 1908)
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Range of the bluegrey carpetshark | |
Synonyms | |
Heteroscyllium colcloughi J. D. Ogilby, 1908 |
The bluegrey carpetshark (Brachaelurus colcloughi) or Colclough's shark, is an uncommon
When removed from the water, the bluegrey carpetshark will close its eyes like the related
Taxonomy
The bluegrey carpetshark was described by Australian
In 1940, Gilbert Percy Whitley published the first illustrations of the bluegrey carpetshark, but unfortunately they were inaccurate in some respects, particularly on omitting a midline groove on the chin. Much taxonomic confusion then resulted, on whether the bluegrey carpetshark and the blind shark belonged to separate genera or even constituted separate species, that were not resolved until the Queensland Museum obtained new specimens for study.[3] Other common names for this species include blue-grey catshark, bluegrey shark, and southern blind shark.[4] The genus Heteroscyllium is a synonym of Brachaelurus.[5]
Distribution and habitat
Rare to uncommon, the bluegrey carpetshark occurs along the northeastern coast of
Description
The bluegrey carpetshark has a stout body with a long, slightly flattened head. The snout is blunt and looks wedge-shaped from the side. The large eyes are horizontally oval and placed high on the head, each with a strong ridge underneath and a large, round spiracles following immediately behind and below. The nostrils are preceded by a pair of long barbels, which have an enlarged posterior flap halfway along their lengths. There are well-developed skin flaps and grooves around the incurrent nostril opening, as well as a pair of grooves connecting them to the small, almost transverse mouth. The tooth rows number 32–34 in the upper jaw and 21–29 in the lower jaw; each tooth has an upright, awl-like central cusp and two lateral cusplets. The five pairs of gill slits are short, with the fourth and fifth pairs more closely spaced than the others.[3][6]
The
Biology and ecology
Like the blind shark, the bluegrey carpetshark shuts its lower
Human interactions
Harmless to humans, the bluegrey carpetshark is occasionally captured incidentally by commercial fisheries or hooked by recreational anglers. Small numbers are collected for the private aquarium trade, as it is attractive (especially young sharks) and probably adapts well to captivity.[3] The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed this species as Vulnerable, citing its narrow habitat preferences, limited range in a heavily populated region, and apparent rarity.[1]
References
- ^ .
- ^ Ogilby, J.D. (25 August 1908). "On new genera and species of fishes". Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland 21: 1–26.
- ^ ISBN 92-5-104543-7.
- ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2010). "Heteroscyllium colcloughi" in FishBase. January 2010 version.
- ISBN 9780957394667.
- ^ ISBN 0-674-03411-2.