Chiloscyllium griseum Müller & Henle, 1838
Grey bambooshark
Pating
Chiloscyllium griseum
photo by Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/D. Terver

Family:  Hemiscylliidae (Bamboo sharks)
Max. size:  77 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 5 - 100 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand. Reported records of this species from the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan are misidentifications of C. punctatum (Ref. 125614). Many country records need confirmation (Ref. 13575).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. Genus: 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 (Ref. 43278). Caudal fin with a pronounced subterminal notch but without a ventral lobe (Ref. 13575). Species: Light brown, yellow-brown or grey-brown above, cream below, with 12-13 prominent saddle marks in young, fading with growth and absent in adults (Ref. 13575). Dark bands in juveniles not outline in black (Ref. 13575). Dorsal fins smaller than pelvic fins, without projecting free rear tips (Ref. 13575). Body without lateral dermal ridge (Ref. 4832,43278, 13575).
Biology:  A common inshore bottom shark (Ref. 247). Often found in estuaries (Ref. 4832). Probably feeds mainly on invertebrates (Ref. 247, 43278). Oviparous (Ref. 43278, 50449). Utilized as a food fish (Ref. 171).
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 28 May 2020 (A2d) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Historical records of Chiloscyllium griseum from the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan are misidentifications of C. punctatum (Ref. 125614). Also confused with C. hasselti (Ref. 47737). Reported in Ref. 247, 280, 288, 13575 and 43278.


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