Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Chondrichthyes
- Order
- Myliobatiformes
- Family
- Hemiscylliidae
- Genus
- Chiloscyllium
- Species
- punctatum
Habitat
This species inhabits shallow coastal waters, including coral reefs, sandy flats, and rocky areas, typically at depths of 1 to 90 meters. It is commonly found in the Indo-West Pacific region, from the eastern Indian Ocean to northern Australia and Japan, preferring warm tropical and subtropical seas with abundant hiding spots.
Diet
The brownbanded bamboo shark primarily feeds on small benthic invertebrates such as crabs, shrimp, and mollusks, along with occasional small fish. It forages nocturnally by scavenging along the ocean floor, using its barbels to detect buried prey.
Behavior
This shark is primarily nocturnal and solitary, spending the day hidden under rocks or in crevices to avoid predators. It exhibits benthic behavior, staying close to the substrate, and is generally non-aggressive, making it popular in public aquariums. They do not form schools and have a calm demeanor when encountered.
Conservation Status
Listed as Near Threatened by IUCN.