The tasseled whiskerfish is one of the most exotic shark species.
These animals, sometimes referred to as carpet sharks, have distinctive, branched leaves sticking out of the head and a flat appearance.
Although these sharks were first described in 1867, they remain mysterious because they are not well known.
Taxonomy of the fringed Vobogun shark
Kingdom: Animal Kingdom
Phylum: Chordate phylum
Subphylum: Subphylum of vertebrates
Order: Cartilaginous fishes
Category: Cartilaginous fish
Subclass: Suborder Plategills
Order: Rectal bimorphous
Family: Proctatidae
Genus: Leaf whiskered sharks
Species: Leaf whisker shark
Biometrics
The tassel whiskered shark can reach a maximum length of 1.25 m.
The head of the whiskered shark is flat and broad, with fringed whiskers on the side of the mouth, and the head is slightly wider than its length, from the tip of the nose to the opening of the fifth gill.
The mouth of the tasseled whiskered shark is located in front of the eyes, there is a symphytic groove on the chin, and there are many highly branched dermal lobes under the chin.
Dermal lobes are located in 24-26 pairs of highly branched on the sides of the head and anteriorly, from the tip of the nose to the base of the pectoral fin, forming a more or less continuous edge, and there are also many complex multiple lobes at the branches of the nasal flat whiskers.
Except for the nodules above the eyes, there are no enlarged nodules on the body or head.
The leaf whisker shark has a very wide trunk with two unspine-dorsal fins spaced longer apart than the inner edge of the first dorsal fin , and slightly longer than half the length of the base of the first dorsal fin.
The height of the first dorsal fin is approximately equal to the length of the base of the tassel whisker, and its starting point is opposite the back quarter of the base of the pelvic fin of the whiskered shark.
The pectoral and pelvic fins of the fringed whiskered shark are wide.
The fin begins after the second dorsal fin.
The tail is anterior and the tail is short, and the distance from the pelvic fin insertion to the origin of the lower tail is approximately equal to the length of the head.
The caudal fin has an upper lobe that barely above the body axis, and a strong terminal lobe and subterminal incision, but no ventral lobe.
The body of the leaf whisker shark has a narrow dark line pattern like a mesh on a lighter background with a large dark spot at the junction of the lines.
There are three rows of teeth on the maxilla and two rows of teeth on the mandible.
The inner canines of the back teeth are strong, absent or have different lateral canines, and have a weak base of the lip.
reproduction
The fringed whiskered shark is ovoviviparous, which means that the female's eggs develop inside her.
During this process, the pups obtain nutrients from the yolk in the womb.
This fluid is rich in mucus, fat or protein and is secreted by special structures within the uterine wall.
Fringed whiskered sharks can lay 20 or more juveniles per litter, each about 20 cm long.
Habitat and conservation
Fringed whiskered sharks live in the tropical waters of the southwest Pacific Ocean near Indonesia, Australia and New Guinea.
They prefer shallow waters near coral reefs, with water depths of about 6 to 131 feet.
Little is known about this species, and at some point, their numbers seem to be declining, leading to them being listed as near threatened.
As with all marine animals, threats include the destruction and loss of coral reef habitat and overfishing.
Due to their beautiful colors and interesting appearance, these sharks are sometimes kept in aquariums.
Even so, the tasseled baleen shark has recently been listed as the least concerned.
feeding
The species feeds on benthic (bottom) fish and invertebrates at night.
During the day, tasseled baleen sharks rest in hidden places, such as under caves and ledges.
Their mouths are so large that they have even been seen swallowing other sharks whole.
This shark can feed on other fish that share its burrow.
Life habits
The leaf whisker shark is perhaps the most camouflaged shark.
The skin on their mouths has small plant-like protrusions, and their bodies are like carpets, which look more like plants in the ocean or rocks on the bottom of the sea.
Leaf whisker sharks rest during the day and come out at night to catch food.
They are aggressive and tend to creep in before their prey is spotted, biting it with their sharp teeth.
Nocturnal, it feeds mainly on fish molluscs and crustaceans.
Leaf whisker sharks can be very ferocious when provoked or surrounded, sometimes attacking humans.
Barbel sharks are generally not considered a threat to humans. However, their ability to camouflage their environment, coupled with sharp teeth, can lead to a bite if you encounter one of these sharks.
Main value
Leaf whisker sharks have a tough and attractive complexion that is sometimes used in leather. It can also be used as a display fish in aquariums in the United States.
Bibliography:
The World's Sharks: An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Shark Species Known to Date, Part 1, Volume 1.
Red List of Threatened Species, International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
