Species learning profile
Epaulette shark
Hemiscyllium ocellatum
Epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) is a saltwater fish associated with reef habitat in Pacific. It walks over reef flats on muscular fins and tolerates very low oxygen.
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At a glance
- المياه
- مياه مالحة
- Habitat
- شعاب مرجانية
- أقصى طول
- 107 cm
- النطاق
- الهادئ
- الفصيلة
- Hemiscylliidae
- الرتبة
- Orectolobiformes
Observe
How to identify Epaulette shark
- It walks over reef flats on muscular fins and tolerates very low oxygen.
- Guide context: reef habitat in Pacific.
- Reported maximum length: 107 cm — capable of growing longer than many people are tall. Maximum is not the same as typical adult size.
Field note: color, size, and markings can change with age, sex, season, depth, and lighting. Use several traits together.
Place and pattern
Where it lives—and how it behaves
Habitat and range
This species is associated with reef habitat across Pacific. Reef crevices provide shelter while current, coral, algae, and neighboring animals supply food.
Behavior
Forages across exposed reef at low tide
Food-web connections
What it eats and why it matters
Diet
Worms, crabs, and small fish.
Ecological role
Predator adapted to extreme reef-flat conditions.
Remember
One fact worth keeping
قد يصل طول Epaulette shark إلى نحو 107 سم، ويوجد غالبًا قرب شعاب مرجانية.
Think like a conservationist
A conservation lens
Reef fish are affected by coral loss, warming, destructive fishing, pollution, and the removal of key grazers or predators.
This habitat lens is not a current population-status assessment. Status can differ among regions and change as new assessments are published; follow the reference links and local fisheries or wildlife agencies for current decisions.
Recall
Quick knowledge check
Which habitat is most closely associated with Epaulette shark in this guide?
Keep exploring
References and further reading
Fishdle summarizes stable identification and ecology concepts in plain language. Taxonomy and population knowledge continue to change, so use primary assessments and regional authorities for conservation or management decisions.
Make connections