Family Parascylliidae The Collared Carpetsharks Sara McCutcheon

Taxanomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Order: Orectolobiformes Family: Parascylliidae Genera: 2 – Cirrhoscyllium and Parascyllium Species: 7 (3 + 4)

Parascylliidae Characteristics Small, slender sharks <1m TL No nictitating eyelid Tiny spiracles Nostrils connected to mouth through nasoral groove

Distinctive Features Cirrhoscyllium spp. Dark saddles, no spots, no collar markings Unique paired barbels on throat Parascyllium spp. Pattern of saddles and spots Spots on caudal fin No barbels on throat

Cirrhoscyllium Throat Barbels No muscles, taste buds, or sensory receptors associated with barbels Sensory organ that responds to physical and mechanical stimulation Not homologous to head appendages from related shark groups

Parascyllium spp. P. ferrugineum P. collare P. variolatum

Distribution of Cirrhoscyllium Cirrhoscyllium spp. found from Vietnam to Taiwan Island and Japan C. expolitum C. formosanum C. japonicum

Distribution of Parascyllium Parascyllium spp. are endemic to Australia P. sparsimaculatum P. collare P. ferrugineum P. variolatum

Habitat/Behavior Benthic Inshore to fairly deep continental shelf (1-435m) Cirrhoscyllium cool, outer shelf benthic Parascyllium variety of habitats: sand, rock reef, kelp beds, and seagrass beds At least 2 species are nocturnal Can change color to camouflage

Diet Food habits are largely unknown Presumed they prey upon benthic crustaceans, molluscs, and teleosts

Reproduction Some (probably all) are oviparous Bulbous eggcase with 2 (sometimes 3) horns Oviposition rates vary from 12-39 days (lab) 1-2 eggs deposited each time Population doubling time ~4.5-14 years

Conservation Not targeted by fisheries Should be rare in bycatch Cirrhoscyllium spp. are not listed on the IUCN redlist Parascyllium spp. are listed as either data deficient or least concern

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