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Blind shark
| Blind shark Temporal range:
| |
|---|---|
| |
| Off Nelson Bay, New South Wales | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Order: | Orectolobiformes |
| Family: | Brachaeluridae |
| Genus: | Brachaelurus |
| Species: | B. waddi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Brachaelurus waddi (Bloch & J. G. Schneider, 1801)
| |
| |
| Range of the blind shark | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Chiloscyllium furvum Macleay, 1881 | |
The blind shark (Brachaelurus waddi) is one of two species of carpet sharks in the family Brachaeluridae, along with the bluegrey carpetshark (Brachaelurus colcloughi). Found along the coast of eastern Australia, this nocturnal, bottom-dwelling species is common in rocky areas and seagrass beds from the intertidal zone to a depth of 140 m (460 ft). It often roams in tidal pools where it may be trapped by the receding tide, and can survive for an extended period out of water.
Maturing at under 62–66 cm (24–26 in) long, the blind shark has a stocky, grayish to brownish body with white flecks and darker bands that fade with age. Its head is wide, flattened, and blunt, with small eyes on top and a pair of long barbels underneath. It has large pectoral fins, two nearly equal-sized dorsal fins placed far back on the body, and an anal fin placed close to the caudal fin. The blind shark feeds primarily on small invertebrates and bony fishes. It is aplacental viviparous with females bearing litters of 7–8 pups in the summer. This small shark adapts readily to being kept in captivity. It is not valued by either commercial or recreational fishers, and its hardiness means that incidentally caught individuals are likely to be returned to the water alive. In the absence of substantial threats to its population, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed it as of Least Concern.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
williamswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Kyne, P.M.; Bennett, M.B. (2015). "Brachaelurus waddi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T41732A68610784. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T41732A68610784.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
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