What Do You Know About the Brownbanded Bamboo Shark?
Not all sharks look like the ones you see in the movies. Aquarist Mallory H. tells you all about the brownbanded bamboo shark at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium. Next time you visit, look for this #shark in the Coastal Gallery!
#clefinfest #cleaquarium #natureiscurious #sharkweek
Hi! I’m Mallory and today I’m going to be talking about our brownbanded bamboo shark. The brownbanded bamboo shark is found in the Indo-West Pacific between Japan and northern Australia.
They’re also known as cat sharks due to cat-like whiskers which are called nasal barbels. They are a sensory organ that helps them find food.
Brownbanded bamboo sharks grow to be about three feet long so our male is fully grown. They have light brown bodies with some darker banding which is how they get their name.
Brownbanded bamboo sharks will swim along the bottom and suck any food up that they find. Typically they are nocturnal hunters.
They typically hunt in tide pools so if the tide goes out they can actually survive outside of the water for up to 12 hours. Our brownbanded bamboo shark eats frozen shrimp, scallops and fish.
In the wild they may be in groups to help protect each other in open environments. They like to hang out in crevices on coral reefs and they try to blend in.
They are listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List due to habitat deterioration, pollution and hunting for human consumption and trade.
My favorite thing about the brownbanded bamboo shark is watching him eat when he will kind of prop himself up on his pec fins.
He’ll suck up the food and prop himself up on peck fins and I just think that’s very cute behavior that they do.
Where to find @CLEAquarium: Coastal Boardwalk Gallery
Author: Mallory H.