Brownbanded Bamboo Shark

This species of shark is from the Hemiscylliidae family, known as longtail carpet sharks or bamboo sharks. They are part of the order Orectolobiformes, making the brownbanded bamboo shark related to the whale shark and nurse sharks. They are known as carpet sharks as they are benthic creatures, living near the bottom of the water.

It might sound obvious, but the brownbanded bamboo shark gets its name from the patterns around its body. Younger sharks will have high-contrast, vertical bands with scattered dark spots. Into adulthood, the stripes and spots fade and the banding becomes less obvious, instead having a plain brownish-grey appearance.

They have slender bodies and their tails are longer than their head and body together. Brownbanded bamboo sharks also have a rounded snout and long, sensory barbels. You will also see a distinct upper notch on the tail fin.

The brownbanded bamboo shark lives in the shallower, tropical waters, usually found in the Indo-West Pacific, spanning from Japan and India down to the northern coast of Australia. They typically inhabit coral reefs, sandy flats and muddy bottoms of the ocean.

Brownbanded bamboo sharks are well camouflaged thanks to their appearance, helping them to blend in with the seafloor. What’s more, they are a very hardy species, surviving in low oxygen environments when required. Some carpet sharks will use their fins to crawl across exposed areas of land, but the brownbanded bamboo shark has evolved to survive out of water for up to 12 hours in shallow tide pools, if they get stranded.

Brownbanded bamboo sharks have also developed a suction feeding method. They create a vacuum action and shoulder shrug to suction up their bottom-dwelling prey. This species also has specialised teeth that allow them to grip and crush the likes of crustacean shells.

The brownbanded bamboo shark is classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, with the population decreasing. They are facing threats from the likes of overfishing and habitat loss, including the loss of coral reefs and seagrass beds.

Conservation efforts including marine habitat protection and breeding programmes can help to rebuild the declining population.

Put your new knowledge into practice at Blue Planet Aquarium! You can see brownbanded bamboo sharks in our Ocean exhibit, which aims to replicate life amongst the tropical reefs. You’ll also see moray eels and stingrays.