Whitespotted bambooshark 3841913 214343519 2008-05-23T03:00:57Z Hesperian 111359 add status system using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] {{Taxobox | name = White-spotted bamboo shark | image = Chiloscyllium plagiosum.jpg | status = NT | status_system = IUCN3.1 | trend = unknown | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[Chondrichthyes]] | subclassis = [[Elasmobranchii]] | ordo = [[Orectolobiformes]] | familia = [[Hemiscylliidae]] | genus = ''[[Chiloscyllium]]'' | species = '''''C. plagiosum''''' | range_map = Chiloscyllium plagiosum distmap.png | range_map_width = 200px | range_map_caption = Range of the white-spotted bamboo shark (in blue) | binomial = ''Chiloscyllium plagiosum'' | binomial_authority = ([[Edward Turner Bennett|Bennett]], 1830) }} {{Sharksportal}} The '''whitespotted bambooshark''', ''Chiloscyllium plagiosum'', is a carpet shark with an adult size that approaches one meter in length <ref name="elasmodiver">{{cite web|url=http://elasmodiver.com/White%20spotted%20bamboo%20shark.htm|title="white spotted bamboo shark"}}</ref>This small, mostly nocturnal species is harmless to humans. The whitespotted bamboo shark is occasionally kept as a pet in larger home aquariums. == Distribution == These sharks are found in coral reefs of the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]]. They are common in the coastal areas of [[Indonesia]] and in surrounding waters, but the species' range extends from Japan to India <ref name="riverbanks">{{cite web|url=http://www.riverbanks.org/zoo/factsheet/wsbshark.shtml|title="white spotted bamboo shark"}}</ref> == Feeding == These sharks feed at night, preying on small fish and [[invertebrate]]s. They have small teeth that can be used for grasping or crushing prey. Soft prey is grasped when the tips of the teeth sink into the flesh, but the teeth pivot backwards when biting hard prey. This protects the tooth tip and allows the flattened front surface of the teeth to form a continuous plate for crushing crabs. <ref name="teeth1">{{cite web|url=http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/master.html?http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/0306/0306_biomechanics.html|title="shark species"}}</ref><ref name="teeth2">{{cite web|url=http://advance.uri.edu/pacer/may2004/story10.htm|title="shark species"}}</ref> == Reproduction == Whitespotted bamboo sharks are oviparous (egg laying). The eggs are approximately five inches long<ref name="TNaquarium">{{cite web|url=http://www.tnaqua.org/Newsroom/OJ_Shark_Species.asp|title="shark species"}}</ref> and hatch after 14 or 15 weeks. <ref name="TNaquarium">{{cite web|url=http://www.tnaqua.org/Newsroom/OJ_Shark_Species.asp|title="shark species"}}</ref><ref name="virginbirth">{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/09/0925_020925_virginshark.html|title="shark gives virgin birth"}}</ref> The young hatch out at approximately 6 inches in length.<ref name="feeding">{{cite web|url=http://www.aquariumfish.com/aquariumfish/detail.aspx?aid=908&cid=3790&search=|title="pet sharks"}}</ref> Doug Sweet, curator of fishes at the Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit reports that in July of 2002 a clutch of eggs from a female whitespotted bamboo shark hatched without any apparent fertilization<ref name="virginbirth">{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/09/0925_020925_virginshark.html|title="shark gives virgin birth"}}</ref> This appears to be the first reported example of parthenogenesis in this species. == Albino Mutations == Three albino whitespotted bamboo sharks have hatched at SeaWorld of Orlando<ref name="albino">{{cite web|url=http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/zoo.10068 |title="albino white spotted bamboo shark"}}</ref> == As Pets == Because of their small size and bottom-dwelling lifestyle, these are one of the more common species of sharks to be kept in home aquariums. They feed and breed readily in captivity.<ref name="teeth1">{{cite web|url=http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/master.html?http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/0306/0306_biomechanics.html|title="shark species"}}</ref>Because of this, they can be purchased from many sources<ref name="store1">{{cite web|url=http://aquaticaonline.net/showproduct.php?productid=3679&pageid=582&storeid=101&siteid=1&cid=0|title="sharks for sale"}}</ref><ref name="store2">{{cite web|url=http://www.exoticfish.com/results.cfm?cat=0|1977|11|41|0& |title="sharks for sale"}}</ref>. Adult specimens will require tanks of at least 180 gallons, and preferably more.<ref name="SharkFAQ">{{cite web|url=http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharkslvgrm.htm|title="FAQs"}}</ref> Captive specimens may be fed chunks of squid, shrimp, clams, scallops and marine fish, as well as live ghost shrimp. <ref name="feeding">{{cite web|url=http://www.aquariumfish.com/aquariumfish/detail.aspx?aid=908&cid=3790&search=|title="pet sharks"}}</ref> ==See also== * [[List of sharks]] * [[Carpet shark]] ==References== {{reflist}} ;General references * {{IUCN2006|assessors=Kyne & Burgess|year=2005|id=60222|title=Chiloscyllium plagiosum|downloaded=10 May 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is near threatened * {{FishBase_species|genus=Chiloscyllium|species=plagiosum|year=2005|month=10}} * {{ITIS|ID=159942|taxon=''Chiloscyllium plagiosum''|year=2006|date=25 January}} [[Category:Hemiscylliidae]] [[fr:Chiloscyllium plagiosum]] {{Shark-stub}}