Common name : Carpet shark, Cat shark, Blind shark, Walking shark
Scientific name : Hemiscyllium ocellatum
Family : Hemiscylliidae
Native to : Australia and New Guinea
Interesting fact : To cope with oxygen depletion during night, the shark increases the blood supply to its brain by shutting down non-essential neural functions.
Conservation status : Least Concern
Living in shallow waters of tidal pools, coral flats and staghorn corals is the epaulette shark. It is 70-90 cm long with a slender body, a short head and broad paddle-shaped fins. The body is light brown with dark spots and a large spot behind the pectoral fin. This nocturnal shark feeds on benthic invertebrates and small bony fish.
