Thursday 1 November 2012

Collared Carpetshark

Collared Carpetshark

The Rusty Carpet Shark (Parascyllium ferrugineum) differs from the Varied Carpet Shark in its colour pattern. It lacks the pitch black collar with the dense white spots. Instead it has a hazy or indistinct collar patch matched by 5 or 6 hazy 'saddles' or broad bands down its body. It has brown instead of white spots on the body and fins with a base colour of grey or brown fading into a pale belly. Like the Varied Carpet Shark the female Rusty Carpet Shark lays small eggs during winter and early spring with tendrils that attach them to reef vegetation. Distribution is from the eastern Victorian border around to Albany in Western Australia. It can be found in the shallows by snorkelers but is normally encountered by scuba divers at depths of more than 15 m on densely carpeted reefs or, at times, on deep seagrass beds. All carpet sharks are harmless but react violently when handled. 

Collared Carpetshark

Collared Carpetshark

Collared Carpetshark

Collared Carpetshark

Collared Carpetshark

Collared Carpetshark

Collared Carpetshark

Collared Carpetshark

Collared Carpetshark

 

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