Chiloscylilum plagiosum
Scientific Name:-
Chiloscylilum plagiosumCommon Name:-
Whitespotted Bambooshark
Malayalam Name:-
Vellappulli Mula Sravu
Category:-
Fishes
Status:-
Classified as Near Threatened in IUCN Redlist of species.
Description:-
Body stout with a rounded snout. Sensory barbels located near each nostril. Nostrils subterminal on snout; pre-oral snout long, mouth closer to eyes than snout tip; eyes and supraorbital ridges hardly elevated; no black hood on head or large spot or spots on sides of body above pectoral fins. There is a lateral ridge on each side of the trunk of this shark. The two dorsal fins are of equal size, that being of approximately the same size as the pelvic fins. The origin of the first dorsal fin is positioned over the insertion of the pelvic fins. The pectoral fins are muscular and flexible and can be used to crawl along the bottom. The anal fin terminates just anterior to the caudal fin. The length of the precaudal tail is much longer than the body and head combined. The caudal fin has a pronounced subterminal notch; there is no ventral lobe present on this species. Body is dark brown with some dark transverse bands as well as numerous irregular white or bluish spots. Although there are other bamboo sharks that are similar in appearance to the whitespotted bambooshark, this species can be distinguished from others by its unique colouration pattern.
Threats:-
In Kerala rarely caught in trawl nets.
Remark:-
Found rarely in the coastal waters of Kerala coast. Recorded in fishing harbours as bycatch of trawlers.
Habitat:-
Marine; reef-associated; 0 - 18 m depth
Synonyms:-
Scyllium plagiosum Anonymous [Bennett], 1830; Scyllium ornatum Gray, 1830; Chiloscyllium plagiosum var. interruptum Bleeker, 1852
References:-
Compagno, L.J.V., Dando, M. and Fowler, S.L. 2005. Sharks of the World. Harper Collins.
Compagno, L.J.V. 2001. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Volume 2. Bullhead, Mackerel and Carpet Sharks (Heterodontiformes, Lamniformes and Orectolobiformes). FAO, Rome.
Kyne, P.M. & Burgess, G.H. 2006. Chiloscyllium plagiosum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 28 October 2014.
Venkataraman, K., John Milton, M.C. and Raghuram, K.P. 2003. Handbook on Sharks of Indian Waters: Diversity, Fishery status, Trade and Conservation. Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata.