Skip to main content
Close

Brown Banded Bamboo Shark

Chiloscyllium punctatum

Photo by AlbertKang
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

11.4483, 124.019

Field Notes

Description:

This is a juvenile Brown Banded Bamboo Shark - Chiloscyllium punctatum. Saw it during a night dive when it was out in the open hunting for food, mostly for crustaceans (crabs) hiding under the sands. This the juvenile phase, they have very distinct dark and light bands. This one was just around 25-30 cm in length and slender, a friend mentioned, could it be that they are trying to mimic a banded seas snake since sea snakes are venomous and this mimicry may offers them 'protection' from their predators who will likely stay away from sea snakes.

Habitat:

They usually hides under rocks and crevices during day time and can only be seen at night in full when they are out foraging for food.

Notes:

Classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (3)

Thanks, @Jordi :) Don't know for sure if that's how they evolve but it makes nice markings to make them stands out :D
Great finding Albert! it seems to be also thin and elongated making him more similar to a sea snake.

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Image
Butterflies icon

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon