Hemiscyllium ocellatum
Average Length – 3ft
They are creamy or brown with a white bordered black spot behind each pectoral fin and small dark spots along the rest of the body.
Epaulette Sharks can be found in the Western Pacific Ocean, around New Guinea, and Northern Australia.
They prefer shallow water and coral reefs.
They most actively feed at dusk and dawn around flat reefs and tide pools.
Mainly feed on crustaceans, small fish, shrimp and polychaete worms.
Unlike many other sharks, Epaulette Sharks might chew their food for 5-10 minutes before swallowing.
These Sharks are mostly nocturnal and are most active in shallow waters.
They are harmless to humans and survive well in captivity.
They can survive up to an hour without oxygen.
They are named after their prominent black spot behind their pectoral fins.
They will sometimes forage for food in tidal pools, and can sometimes “walk” on their fins if they become stranded in low water.
