Hemiscyllium hallstromi

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	CHONDRICHTHYES	ORECTOLOBIFORMES	HEMISCYLLIIDAE

Scientific Name:

Hemiscyllium hallstromi

Species Authority:

Whitley, 1967

Common Name/s:

English

–

Papuan Epaulette Shark

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Vulnerable B1ab(iii) ver 3.1
Year Assessed:	2003
Assessor/s	Heupel, M.R. & Kyne, P.M. (SSG Australia & Oceania Regional Workshop, March 2003)
Evaluator/s:	Fowler, S. & Cavanagh, R.D. (Shark Red List Authority)
Justification: A largely unknown species endemic to the Gulf of Papua (Papua New Guinea), a limited distribution subject to a high degree of habitat destruction (high pollutant loads and dynamite fishing practices). Gold mining in the Fly River catchment contributes a large pollutant load that drains directly into the Gulf of Papua causing habitat damage. Hemiscyllium hallstromi may also be dependent on coral reef habitats, which are being heavily impacted by pollution and destructive fishing. This species may be subject to exploitation by the aquarium industry, but the extent is unknown.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	H. hallstromi is known to occur in the Western South Pacific, exclusively in Papua New Guinea (Gulf of Papua).
Countries:	Native: Papua New Guinea
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Pacific – western central

Population [top]

Population:	Little is known about the population size in this range and no scientific data are currently available.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species resides in coastal tropical waters possibly on coral reefs. H. hallstromi reaches a maximum size of 77 cm total length (TL). Males mature between 48 to 64 cm TL. The biology of this species is almost entirely unknown.
Systems:	Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	It is unknown if this species is utilized by the aquarium industry. However, this is a very attractive and hardy species that may be sought after for public and private aquaria. This small population is very susceptible to habitat destruction via high pollutant levels and dynamite fishing practices.

Major Threat(s):

It is unknown if this species is utilized by the aquarium industry. However, this is a very attractive and hardy species that may be sought after for public and private aquaria. This small population is very susceptible to habitat destruction via high pollutant levels and dynamite fishing practices.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	There are currently no conservation measures in place for this species. Based on the restricted distribution of this species and high risk of habitat destruction this species requires scientific examination to assess its conservation status.

Conservation Actions:

There are currently no conservation measures in place for this species. Based on the restricted distribution of this species and high risk of habitat destruction this species requires scientific examination to assess its conservation status.

Citation:	Heupel, M.R. & Kyne, P.M. 2003. Hemiscyllium hallstromi. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 08 January 2009.
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