The Indonesian speckled carpetshark, ''Hemiscyllium freycineti'', is a species of bamboo shark in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Hemiscylliidae. It is found in the shallow ocean around the

Raja Ampat Islands Raja Ampat, or the ''Four Kings'', is an archipelago located off the northwest tip of Bird's Head Peninsula on the island of New Guinea, in Indonesia's Southwest Papua , Southwest Papua province. It comprises over 1,500 small islands, cays, and sh ...

in West Papua,

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...

, but was formerly believed to be more widespread. This was due to confusion with '' H. michaeli'', a species described from eastern

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...

in 2010.Michael, S. (May 16, 2008).
Will the real Hemiscyllium freycineti please stand up?
' Compared to that species, the spots on ''H. freycineti'' are smaller, more rounded or slightly elongated in shape (versus relatively large, edged and more leopard-like in ''H. michaeli''), and tend to darken at regular intervals forming 8-9 vertical bars on the body and tail. Furthermore, the large black spot behind the

pectoral fin Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as ...

is more clearly defined in ''H. michaeli'' than in ''H. freycineti''. Confusingly, some books with illustrations and photos labelled as ''H. freycineti'' actually show ''H. michaeli''. ''H. freycineti'' reaches a length is up to . It is nocturnal, hiding in reef crevices during the day. Compagno, Dando, & Fowler (2005). ''Sharks of the World''. Princeton University Press, New Jersey.

Etymology

The shark is named in honor of French navigator Louis de Freycinet (1779-1841), who collected the type specimen.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q29309 Indonesian speckled carpetshark Fish of Indonesia Fish of Western New Guinea Taxa named by Jean René Constant Quoy - 1824-1825 Taxa named by Joseph Paul Gaimard Indonesian speckled carpetshark

Etymology

See also

References