Chiloscyllium indicum

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	CHONDRICHTHYES	ORECTOLOBIFORMES	HEMISCYLLIIDAE

Scientific Name:

Chiloscyllium indicum

Species Authority:

(Gmelin, 1789)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Catshark, Frog Shark, Nurse Shark, Ridgeback Catshark, Ridgebacked Bamboo Shark, Ridge Back Shark, Slender Bamboo Shark, Stone Shark, Time Teller Shark
French	–	Requin-chabot Élégant
Spanish	–	Bamboa Elegante

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Near Threatened ver 3.1
Year Published:	2003
Assessor/s:	Barratt, P., Cavanagh, R.D. & Kyne, P.M. (SSG Australia & Oceania Regional Workshop, March 2003)
Reviewer/s:	Shark Specialist Group Australia & Oceania Regional Group (Shark Red List Authority)
Justification: Chiloscyllium indicum is likely to be threatened by overfishing, destructive fishing practices and habitat modification, including the damage and destruction of coral reefs throughout much of its range. This species is regularly taken in inshore fisheries in India, Sri Lanka and Thailand where it is utilized for food. Virtually nothing is known of the biology of this small, sluggish, bottom dwelling shark. However, although common within parts of its range, it is assessed as Near Threatened, reflecting concern that it may meet the Vulnerable criteria due to the significant impact that considerable fishing pressure is likely having on this species in much of its range, and that will continue in future. There is a need for survey and appraisal of the status of this species.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Country distribution range is uncertain.
Countries:	Native: China; India; Indonesia; Singapore; Sri Lanka; Taiwan, Province of China; Thailand; Viet Nam Presence uncertain: Australia; Bangladesh; Cambodia; Japan; Korea, Republic of; Malaysia; Pakistan; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Solomon Islands
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Indian Ocean – eastern; Indian Ocean – western; Pacific – western central; Pacific – northwest
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	No data are available on population size or subpopulations, though it is known to be common within parts of its range.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	A common but little-known inshore sluggish bottom shark. It may possibly occur in fresh water in the lower reaches of the Perak River in peninsular Malaysia. Maximum total length (TL) is about 65 cm, with males maturing between 39 and 42 cm TL, and females at 43 cm TL. Chiloscyllium indicum is oviparous, and is inferred to feed mainly on invertebrates. Virtually nothing is known of the biology of this species.
Systems:	Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

A common but little-known inshore sluggish bottom shark. It may possibly occur in fresh water in the lower reaches of the Perak River in peninsular Malaysia. Maximum total length (TL) is about 65 cm, with males maturing between 39 and 42 cm TL, and females at 43 cm TL. Chiloscyllium indicum is oviparous, and is inferred to feed mainly on invertebrates. Virtually nothing is known of the biology of this species.

Systems:

Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Chiloscyllium indicum is of considerable interest to fisheries in some areas and is regularly taken in inshore fisheries in India, Sri Lanka and Thailand and utilized fresh for food. It is caught in demersal trawls, demersal gill nets and occasionally pelagic gill nets and is likely to be threatened by overfishing, destructive fishing practices and habitat modification, including the damage and destruction of coral reefs throughout much of its range.

Major Threat(s):

Chiloscyllium indicum is of considerable interest to fisheries in some areas and is regularly taken in inshore fisheries in India, Sri Lanka and Thailand and utilized fresh for food. It is caught in demersal trawls, demersal gill nets and occasionally pelagic gill nets and is likely to be threatened by overfishing, destructive fishing practices and habitat modification, including the damage and destruction of coral reefs throughout much of its range.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	There are currently no conservation measures in place for this species.

Conservation Actions:

There are currently no conservation measures in place for this species.

Bibliography [top]

	Carpenter, K.E. and Neim, V.H. (eds) 1998. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Vol. 2. Cephalopods, crustaceans, holothurians and sharks. FAO species identification guide for fishing purposes. FAO, Rome. Compagno, L.J.V. 2001. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Vol. 2. Bullhead, mackeral and carpet sharks (Heterodontiformes, Lamniformes and Orectolobiformes). FAO species catalogue for fisheries purposes. No. 1. Vol. 2. FAO, Rome. IUCN. 2003. 2003 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 18 November 2003. IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group. Specialist Group website. Available at: http://www.iucnssg.org/.

Carpenter, K.E. and Neim, V.H. (eds) 1998. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Vol. 2. Cephalopods, crustaceans, holothurians and sharks. FAO species identification guide for fishing purposes. FAO, Rome.

Compagno, L.J.V. 2001. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Vol. 2. Bullhead, mackeral and carpet sharks (Heterodontiformes, Lamniformes and Orectolobiformes). FAO species catalogue for fisheries purposes. No. 1. Vol. 2. FAO, Rome.

IUCN. 2003. 2003 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 18 November 2003.

IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group. Specialist Group website. Available at: http://www.iucnssg.org/.

Citation:	Barratt, P., Cavanagh, R.D. & Kyne, P.M. 2003. Chiloscyllium indicum. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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