Orectolobiformes

Whitespotted Bamboo Shark

Chiloscyllium plagiosum

Max Length

1.2m

Overview

A small, slender shark common in Indo-Pacific shallow reef habitats. One of the most frequently kept sharks in public aquariums due to its hardiness and manageable size. Harmless.

Habitat

The shark prefers inshore waters. It is usually seen on the bottom, or on the reefs in the tropics.

Distribution

Indo-Pacific Ocean

Indo-west Pacific from Madagascar to Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan.

Behavior

This shark is nocturnal. It rests in reef crevices by day, and feeds at night.

Biology

Diet: Bony fishes and crustaceans.
Reproduction: Oviparous

Appearance

Dorsal: This shark has a pokie machines dark body with numerous light and dark spots, dark bands and saddles not conspicuously edged with black.

Sources:sharksorg

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the whitespotted bamboo shark dangerous to humans?

The whitespotted bamboo shark is not considered dangerous to humans under normal conditions. There are few or no recorded incidents involving this species.

Where does this species data come from?

Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed taxonomy and published references. Incident data is sourced from the Global Shark Attack File and joined to species records by name match.

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Orectolobiformes

Whitespotted Bamboo Shark

Chiloscyllium plagiosum

Back to species

Max Length

1.2m

Overview

A small, slender shark common in Indo-Pacific shallow reef habitats. One of the most frequently kept sharks in public aquariums due to its hardiness and manageable size. Harmless.

Habitat

The shark prefers inshore waters. It is usually seen on the bottom, or on the reefs in the tropics.

Distribution

Indo-Pacific Ocean

Indo-west Pacific from Madagascar to Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan.

Behavior

This shark is nocturnal. It rests in reef crevices by day, and feeds at night.

Biology

Diet: Bony fishes and crustaceans.
Reproduction: Oviparous

Appearance

Dorsal: This shark has a pokie machines dark body with numerous light and dark spots, dark bands and saddles not conspicuously edged with black.

Sources:sharksorg

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the whitespotted bamboo shark dangerous to humans?

The whitespotted bamboo shark is not considered dangerous to humans under normal conditions. There are few or no recorded incidents involving this species.

Where does this species data come from?

Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed taxonomy and published references. Incident data is sourced from the Global Shark Attack File and joined to species records by name match.

Back to species