Epaulette shark
Epaulette shark | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Chondrichthyes |
Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
Subdivision: | Selachimorpha |
Order: | Orectolobiformes |
Family: | Hemiscylliidae |
Genus: | Hemiscyllium |
Species: | H. ocellatum
|
Binomial name | |
Hemiscyllium ocellatum (Bonnaterre, 1788)
| |
Range of the epaulette shark | |
Synonyms | |
Squalus ocellatus Bonnaterre, 1788 |
The epaulette shark (
Epaulette sharks have
Taxonomy and phylogeny
The epaulette shark was originally described as Squalus ocellatus by the French
Distribution and habitat
The range of the epaulette shark extends from the southern coast of
Description
The epaulette shark has an elongated body, over half of which is comprised by the slender caudal peduncle. The snout is short and rounded, with the
The pectoral and
Biology and ecology
As an
Epaulette sharks are preyed upon by larger fishes such as other sharks.
Hypoxia tolerance
At night, the shallow reef platforms inhabited by the epaulette shark often become isolated from the ocean by the receding tide. The amount of
The physiological responses of the epaulette shark to low oxygen are mediated by the nucleoside adenosine. In hypoxic conditions, the heart and ventilation rates drop sharply.[17] The shark's blood pressure falls by half as the blood vessels dilate to deliver more blood to the brain and heart. Unlike in bony fishes and tetrapods, the blood flow rate remains constant and there is no elevation of blood glucose levels.[18] The brains of sharks only consume a third as much ATP as those of teleosts.[16] The epaulette shark is able to lower this energy demand further by reducing the metabolism of certain areas of its brain, e.g. keeping the sensory nuclei functional while deactivating the motor nuclei. This allows the shark to supply enough ATP to prevent neuron death, while still remaining alert to its environment.[19]
Temperature susceptibility
Epaulette shark development rate and fitness are strongly affected by temperature during development.[20] Temperature rises due to climate change are sufficient to weaken the sharks, which risks damage to ecosystems.[20]
Feeding
The epaulette shark is an opportunistic predator of
Life history
Human interactions
Epaulette sharks are harmless to humans, though if handled they may nip their captors. They are easily observed and handled by beachgoers as they move slowly whilst out of water, and show little fear of humans; the shark is often injured by these encounters.
The
In 2015, the behaviour of an epaulette shark was filmed in detail by the
References
- ^ . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ ISBN 978-92-5-104543-5.
- ^ a b c Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2009). "Hemiscyllium ocellatum" in FishBase. May 2009 version.
- ^ Goto, T. (2001). "Comparative Anatomy, Phylogeny and Cladistic Classification of the Order Orectolobiformes (Chondrichthyes, Elasmobranchii)". Memoirs of the Graduate School of Fisheries Science, Hokkaido University. 48 (1): 1–101.
- ^ a b c d Bester, C. Biological Profiles: Epaulette Shark Archived 2016-01-04 at the Wayback Machine. Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Department. Retrieved on May 14, 2009.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-55209-629-1.
- S2CID 1339099.
- ^ Martin, R.A. Why Do Sharks Expose Their Dorsal Fins? Archived 2009-10-03 at the Wayback Machine ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research. Retrieved on October 4, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e Martin, R.A. Intertidal Zone: Epaulette Shark Archived 2008-10-06 at the Wayback Machine. ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research. Retrieved on May 14, 2009.
- doi:10.1071/ZO01081.
- PMID 10221633.
- .
- PMID 15619512.
- PMID 9138029.
- .
- ^ ISBN 978-0-12-350445-6.
- PMID 11818236.
- ^ Wise, G.; Mulvey, J.M. & Renshaw, G.M.C. "Hypoxia tolerance in the epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum)". Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Comparative Experimental Biology. 281 (1): 1–5.
- S2CID 21800654.
- ^ a b Readfearn, Graham (2021-01-12). "Baby sharks emerge from egg cases earlier and weaker in oceans warmed by climate crisis". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 2021-01-12. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
In normal temperatures, the sharks emerged from the egg cases after 125 days. But in 31C waters, they emerged after 100 days. The researchers also measured the fitness of the baby sharks, and found that it peaked at 29C but then fell sharply at 31C... Weaker sharks were less efficient hunters ... which could then have a knock-on effect across the coral reefs where they live, upsetting the balance of the ecosystem.
- PMID 10469996.
- ^ West, J.G.; Carter, S. (1990). "Observations on the development and growth of the epaulette shark Hemiscyllium ocellatum (Bonnaterre) in captivity". Journal of Aquariculture and Aquatic Science. 5: 111–117.
- ^ "Aquarium Fish: The Epaulette Sharks ( Hemiscyllium SPP.) - the Perfect Aquarium Sharks — Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog". Archived from the original on 2015-05-07. Retrieved 2015-05-08.
- ^ "Epaulette shark".
- ^ Michael, S. W. (2004). "Sharks at Home". Aquarium Fish Magazine. Vol. March 2004. pp. 20–29.
- ^ "BBC One - Shark". Archived from the original on 2016-12-01. Retrieved 2015-05-08.